The Dallas Cowboys (-7) are preparing to greet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Dallas. This early afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET and FOX will broadcast the action.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys Betting Preview
In this Sunday NFC game, Dallas is tabbed as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 7 points. The Buccaneers are also receiving +230 moneyline odds while the Cowboys are -280. There will probably be multiple solid live betting scenarios for this showdown, and Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 46 points.
The Buccaneers are 6-7-1 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.8 units so far. The team has recorded an O/U mark of 8-6. The Cowboys have gained 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 7-6-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-8.
The Buccaneers are 5-9 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Cowboys are 8-6 SU.
The Bucs came up short to Baltimore 20-12 in a Week 15 matchup where Jameis Winston completed only 13-of-25 passes for 157 yards and one interception. Peyton Barber (85 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) led the running attack. Mike Evans (four receptions, 121 yards) and Adam Humphries (four catches, 23 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
In Week 15, Indianapolis blanked this Dallas team by a score of 23-0. Dak Prescott completed 24-of-39 passes for 206 yards and one interception. Ezekiel Elliott had a monster statline in the loss. In addition to 87 yards on 18 rush attempts, Elliott also reeled in seven catches for 41 yards.
Tampa Bay has run the ball on 38.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Dallas has an overall rush percentage of 46.2 percent. The Buccaneers have produced 98 rush yards per game and have 10 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Cowboys are putting up 131 rushing yards per game and have 11 total rush TDs.
If 2018 numbers are any indication, then it seems like the Cowboys may hold an edge in terms of RB efficiency, since their backfield has produced 4.7 yards per carry while the defense has allowed 3.7 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Buccaneers have tallied 4.0 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.8 to opponents.
The Bucs offensive scheme has logged 334 yards/game through the air overall and has 31 passing TDs so far. The Cowboys have recorded 238 pass yards per outing and have 17 total pass scores.
Tampa Bay has let opponents run for an average of 128 yards and throw for 274 yards per game. The Dallas defense has allowed 239.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 93.4 yards per game to opposing runners. The Cowboys are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.47 to opponents, while the Buccaneers have given up a 7.72 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Winston has put up 2,098 yards this year, and has connected on 170-of-257 attempts with 12 passing scores and 12 interceptions. Winston’s got a 6.16 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.12 over the past two outings.
On the other sideline, Dak Prescott has connected on 267-of-403 passes for 2,882 yards, 14 TDs and six INTs. Prescott’s ANY/A sits at 5.75 for the season and 5.44 over his last two outings.
RELATED: Week 16 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
NFL Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
SU Winner – Cowboys, ATS Winner – Cowboys, O/U – Under
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Tampa Bay defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 36 times this season. Dallas has produced 35 sacks.
The Dallas offense has lost nine fumbles in 2018 while the Tampa Bay offense has lost seven.
The Buccaneers offense has produced 13 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cowboys have put up eight such plays.
The Tampa Bay defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Dallas has given up six such plays.
The Tampa Bay offense has created five rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Dallas has created 10 such runs.
The Buccaneers defense has allowed 15 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cowboys have given up seven such runs.
The Over/Under for Dallas’ last game going into it was 47. The under cashed in that 23-0 defeat to Indianapolis.
Over its last three matches, Dallas is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matches, Tampa Bay is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Tampa Bay’s last game going into it was 44.5. The under cashed in the team’s 20-12 defeat to Baltimore.
Tampa Bay has rushed for 4.1 yards per attempt across its past three outings and 4.3 over its last two.
Dallas has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.4 over its past two.
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