Dallas Cowboys -v- LA Rams (Week 5)

Having looked completely dysfunctional in a Week 1 shocker, the Cowboys have won three on the bounce under back-up QB Cooper Rush, who has posted solid performances.

They have a rock-solid defense and efficient enough offensive line which is protecting Rush pretty well, while the offense itself is okay and may actually be benefitting from a slightly less complicated approach under their back-up: I don't see it as a big downside that Dak may be in line to miss another week or two.

Their opponents this week are reigning champions the LA Rams, who have scraped their way to a 2-2 start but are definitely not firing on all cylinders. Their run game looks tepid at best, Stafford may or may not have an ongoing elbow issue, and other teams appear to be working out that he targets Kupp and Higbee and, er, that's it. He's thrown more interceptions than touchdowns through four games, which sounds like panic stations.

Having been comprehensively outplayed by the SF49ers last week - a team with an elite defense and adequate offense - they now take on Dallas - a team with an elite defense and adequate offense. They will obviously be trying to break out of this rut and work some variations into their play, but there is every chance that what we see is going to be pretty much the same kind of performance, and could well end up with pretty much the same kind of result.

So obviously Dallas are going to be at least joint-favourites for this match at SoFi. Except they aren't, and are priced up at about 9/5 (2.8), which looks very generous. (I'd have put them in no bigger than 1.9)

The dusted-off Predictor has been cranked back into life, and has this as Dallas Cowboys 23-15 LA Rams which looks pretty feasible.