**Texans vs. Cowboys: Odds, Predictions, and Key Matchups for Monday Night Football**

As the NFL Week 11 schedule concludes, the Houston Texans (6-4) are set to face off against the Dallas Cowboys (3-6) on Monday Night Football. Both teams enter the clash with losing streaks; Dallas has dropped four consecutive games, culminating in a 34-6 defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The Texans, too, are coming off back-to-back losses, including a narrow 26-23 defeat to the Detroit Lions courtesy of a last-second 52-yard field goal.

With Dak Prescott sidelined for the season due to a hamstring injury, Cooper Rush is expected to stay in as the starting quarterback for the Cowboys. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Dallas. According to the latest odds from SportsLine Consensus, Houston is a seven-point favorite and the over/under for total points sits at 41. The Texans also stand as -352 money-line favorites, making the Cowboys +281 underdogs.

SportsLine's model, which has simulated the Texans vs. Cowboys game 10,000 times, is particularly worth noting. This model is currently on a 17-7 run for top-rated NFL picks this season. The model also boasts an impressive 197-136 record on top-rated NFL picks since 2017 and has performed exceptionally well in NFLPickWatch rankings and various betting platforms.

Analyzing the breakdowns, quarterback C.J. Stroud of the Texans is one of the key players to watch. Stroud ranks seventh in the NFL with 2,371 passing yards and is tied for 10th in passing touchdowns with 12. Dallas, which allows 362.9 passing yards per game (26th in the league), will likely find Stroud a formidable opponent. The Texans' running back, Joe Mixon, also poses a significant threat to Dallas’ defense, which ranks 31st in the league for rushing yards allowed. Mixon has amassed 655 rushing yards, 159 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns.

On the Cowboys' side, receiver CeeDee Lamb stands out. Lamb is fifth in the league for receptions (59) and seventh for receiving yards (681), with four touchdowns to his name. Defensively, Dallas will rely on linebacker Micah Parsons, who recently returned from injury and demonstrated his potential with two sacks and a forced fumble against the Eagles. Houston’s vulnerability in sacks (third highest in the league) could play into Dallas’ hands, particularly with Parsons on the field.

The model has tipped the total score to lean over 41 points, projecting a combined score of 45. Additionally, it suggests one side of the spread will be successful over 50% of the time. For complete betting predictions, NFL enthusiasts can turn to SportsLine's detailed simulations and analysis.

As the Texans and Cowboys prepare for their Monday night showdown, the game's outcome will not only affect their season records but also have significant implications for betting enthusiasts following the expert predictions.