Houston Texans v Dallas Cowboys Week 4: Perfect road record jumps off the page — our tips

Week 4 brings a classic cross-conference clash set for Mon, 5 Oct, 4:00 am AEDT as the Houston Texans host the Dallas Cowboys. Houston is searching for its first victory of the campaign sitting at 0-3 overall, while Dallas arrives looking to bounce back with a 2-1 record. If you are following nfl predictions this week, the contrast in venue splits and point differentials between these two outfits makes for a compelling contest.

Head To Head: Can Dallas capitalise on road form?

The head-to-head market places Houston Texans as favourites at 1.78, with Dallas Cowboys as 2.05 outsiders. However, the numbers say Dallas brings a serious case into this matchup despite playing away from home. Dallas holds an unbeaten 2-0 road record this season and boasts a +28 point differential, putting up 75 points while allowing 47 across three starts. In contrast, Houston is 0-2 at home and carries a -25 point differential having scored just 40 points so far.

Both teams enter this clash following last-start losses on Sat, 29 Aug. Houston suffered a 13–16 away defeat against the Carolina Panthers, while Dallas dropped a tight 24–27 home result against the New Orleans Saints. Dallas previously displayed dominant away form on Sun, 23 Aug with a 34–13 win over the Arizona Cardinals. At 2.05, the visitors rate a real chance to turn that away form into another victory.

Line Analysis: Cowboys value with the start

The line market lists Houston Texans at -1.5 (1.90) and Dallas Cowboys at +1.5 (1.90). Getting a start on the road gives Dallas a big tick given their away record this season. Houston has struggled to generate scoreboard pressure with just 40 points scored across three losses, making them hard to back as favourites to cover the line.

Dallas has shown plenty of scoring punch on the road with two away wins. Taking Dallas Cowboys +1.5 at 1.90 provides cover in what shapes up as a tight battle.