Cowboys vs Buccaneers Betting Odds: Visiting Dallas Favored to Take Down Bucs

Cowboys, Buccaneers Meet in Playoffs for First Time Since 1983

Quarterbacks are always under the microscope when the playoffs roll along. That is especially true when looking at the Cowboys vs Buccaneers betting odds.

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady is 8-0 in his career against Dallas. It should be noted that the Tom Brady who will step on the field on Monday is not playing at the same level as he was during many of those NFL matchups with Dallas.

As for Dallas, Dak Prescott has thrown 11 interceptions over the last seven games and his track record in the postseason doesn’t give Dallas fans a reason for optimism.

Dallas was fourth in scoring during the regular NFL season averaging 27.5 points per game. However, will the team that hung 40 points up on NFC North Division champion Minnesota or had just six points against Washington Commanders show up?

Tampa Bay has scored more than 24 points just once in the last 13 games. Be sure to check all the NFL scores of every matchups before betting.

Dallas Cowboys Team Analysis

Few games were harder to figure out during the 2022 regular season than the final game played by Dallas. Still, the Cowboys vs Buccaneers betting odds favors visiting Dallas.

The Dallas Cowboys went into the regular-season finale with a chance to win the NFC East title and perhaps earn the No. 1 seed throughout the NFC playoffs. Going against a Washington team that had been eliminated from playoff contention and facing a rookie making his first NFL start, it was supposed to be no problem for the Cowboys. The 26-6 loss left more questions than answers.

Plenty of NFL teams have rebounded from difficult final games during the regular season and gone on a playoff run. For a team that has been underachieving in the postseason in recent years, the performance raised more than a few red flags.

Look for Dallas to ride the play of running backs Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard in this game. That is especially true if Tampa Bay is without run-stuffing defense tackle Vita Vea.

Also keep an eye on the NFL injuries on the Tampa Bay offensive line because Micah Parsons could have a field day facing a banged-up Buccaneers’ line.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Analysis

It is looking like center Ryan Jensen could be back for the Buccaneers and perhaps defensive tackle Vita Vea will also suit up; the host Buccaneers will get a little nasty. What happens with the injured Tampa Bay players could factor into the Cowboys vs Buccaneers betting odds.

Tampa Bay attempted more passes than any other team; however, rookie running back Rachaad White averaged 4.8, 4.8, and 4.3 in his last three games against NFC teams in the playoffs. Wouldn’t it be something a little different for Tampa Bay to try to establish the run against a Dallas team that allowed Washington to run for 151 yards in the regular-season finale.

There are injury concerns on both sides of the ball with the issues with receiver Mike Evans and defensive tackle Vita Vea the most concerning.

Cowboys vs Buccaneers Head to Head

Tampa Bay has won the last two meetings and that includes a 19-3 win in the 2022 season opener with the visiting Buccaneers favored by 2.5 points according to the NFL point spread. That ended a five-game run in the series when the game was decided by seven points or less.

The last time the teams met in Tampa Bay was a 31-29 win by the Buccaneers on Sept. 9, 2021 with Tampa Bay favored by nine points. Six of the last seven games between the Cowboys and Buccaneers finished under the total.

Cowboys vs Buccaneers Injury Update

• Center Tyler Biadasz (ankle), guard Matt Farniok (hamstring) and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (shoulder) are questionable for Dallas.
• Having cornerback Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis on injured reserve could be an issue when trying to match up with the Tampa Bay receivers.
• For Tampa Bay, cornerback Carlton Davis (shoulder), safety Mike Edwards (hamstring), receivers Mike Evans (illness).
• Julio Jones (knee) and Russell Gage (back), offensive linemen Robert Hainsey, Donovan Smith (foot)
• Ryan Jensen as well as defensive lineman Vita Vea (calf) are questionable.

Cowboys vs Buccaneers Betting Preview

The reality is that it is hard to have faith in either of these teams heading into the 2023 NFL playoffs. There are simply too many key players dealing with injuries for Tampa Bay and the Dallas Cowboys have been underwhelming in the playoffs before.

Dallas comes in as a 2½-point favorite per the NFL wild card odds and if the game is tied late, having Brett Maher to call upon could be huge. Maher was 29 of 32 on field goals, including 9 of 11 from 50 yards or longer.

It won’t be a surprise to see Dallas head home from Tampa Bay with a win even if the Buccaneers did win the regular-season meeting. The Buccaneers were just 2-6-1 against the spread at home and Dallas covered in four of the eight road games.

The Los Angeles Rams are the only NFC teams with fewer points this season than Tampa Bay’s total of 31 and the -45 point differential is the worst among the 14 playoff teams.

Dallas can put up the points, but can Tampa do the same to allow the game to go over the 45½-point total?

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