The Todd Bowles era with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers begins with a high-profile Week 1 tilt on the road. The Buccaneers, keyed by Tom Brady and a high-powered offense, face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The same two teams met in the 2021 regular season opener, with Tampa Bay prevailing in a close-fought game. Both teams exited before the NFC Championship Game last season after division-winning regular season performances.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Buccaneers as 2.5-point road favorites in Dallas, and kick-off is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 50 in the latest Buccaneers vs. Cowboys odds. Before you evaluate the Cowboys vs. Buccaneers match-up and make any NFL predictions, you need to see the NFL predictions and SNF betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up over $7,500 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 138-97 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. Amazingly, it hasn’t missed a top-rated pick since Week 15 of last season.
The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.
Now, the model has set its sights on Buccaneers vs. Cowboys and just locked in its picks and Sunday Night Football predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Cowboys vs. Bucs:
- Cowboys vs. Buccaneers spread: Buccaneers -2.5
- Cowboys vs. Buccaneers over/under: 50 points
- Cowboys vs. Buccaneers money line: Buccaneers -140, Cowboys +118
- TB: Buccaneers were 10-9 against the spread last season
- DAL: Cowboys were 13-5 against the spread last season
- Buccaneers vs. Cowboys picks: See picks here
Featured Game | Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why the Buccaneers can cover
Tampa Bay’s offense is dynamic and multi-faceted. The Buccaneers are keyed by arguably the best quarterback in NFL history in Brady, with the seven-time Super Bowl champion finishing No. 2 in MVP voting in 2021. Brady led the league in myriad passing categories, including yards, touchdowns and completions, and he is supported by elite skill talent.
Though Chris Godwin faces injury questions, Tampa Bay has a tremendous leading pass-catcher in Mike Evans, who finished with the most touchdown catches (14) in the league in 2021. Evans is the first and only player in NFL history to begin a career with 1,000 receiving yards or more in his first eight seasons, and the Buccaneers also added veteran Julio Jones in the offseason. Jones sits atop the NFL record book in averaging 91.9 receiving yards per game in his career, and the Buccaneers also deploy a very strong running back with Leonard Fournette, who produced 1,266 total yards and 10 touchdowns in only 14 games last season.
Why the Cowboys can cover
Dallas has an edge with its home-field advantage, as AT&T Stadium will be rocking for the season opener. The Cowboys should also benefit from a few shortcomings of the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is facing considerable offensive line issues, both due to personnel losses and injuries. From there, the Buccaneers allowed a 33 percent pressure rate in the team’s playoff loss to the Rams, and Tampa Bay finished just No. 26 in the NFL in rushing yards a season ago.
Dallas was also the best against-the-spread team in the NFL last season, posting a 13-4 record, and the Cowboys are elite on offense. With Dak Prescott at the helm, the Cowboys led the league in scoring 31.2 points per game, and Dallas scored a whopping 36.4 points per game in home tilts in 2021. The Cowboys led the league in takeaways on the defensive side, and Dallas finished with top-seven marks in the NFL in points allowed, third down rate allowed, passer rating allowed, and pressure rate.
How to make Buccaneers vs. Cowboys picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the point total, with the model calling for 53 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can only see the model’s Cowboys vs. Buccaneers picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Bucs vs. Cowboys on Sunday Night Football? And which side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Buccaneers vs. Cowboys spread you need to jump on Sunday, all from the model that’s 138-97 on NFL picks, and find out.