The final game of an exciting Wild Card weekend sees the NFC South Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosting the Dallas Cowboys. The winner of this game will go on to face the 49ers in San Francisco next week in the Divisional round. These teams met all the way back in week 1 of this season, with the Buccaneers shutting the Cowboys down in Dallas, coming away 19-3 winners.
With our bets on Monday yet to be fully graded at the time of writing, we will just have a quick rundown of day 1 in Wild Card weekend. Our best bets went 2 from 2, with the alternate bet in the 49ers and Seahawks game going down. Our early playoff record stands at 2-1 (+2.21u). Make sure you’re following our previews and best bets on our NFL tips page, as we look to keep making money throughout the playoffs.
Also, make sure to check out our NFL Tips page regularly to find our best bets for every week of the season!
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview & Betting Tips
Raymond James Stadium, Tuesday 12:15pm AEDT
Key Injury News
The Bucs are hoping to get Pro Bowl Center Ryan Jensen back ahead of this Wild Card matchup with the Cowboys. Jensen was seen today at practice going through some drills, however, was still not a full participant. Jensen would be a massive inclusion if he’s fit for the Bucs offensive line. Tight End Kyle Rudolph is trending towards not playing, whilst key defensive pieces Vita Vea, Carlton Davis and Mike Edwards should all be good to go for the Buccaneers.
Meanwhile for the Cowboys, they will again be without several cornerbacks, including Trayvon Mullen, Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis, meaning they will once again be thin at the position. The team appears relatively healthy outside of this cluster injury, with no other big names on the injury report today.
Match Preview
Has Tom Brady flipped the switch, like we’ve been waiting for all season? Against the Panthers two weeks ago, Brady put the team on his back, in a near must-win situation. Brady threw for 432 yards and 3 touchdowns, whilst building chemistry with his number 1 receiver, Mike Evans. The Bucs defence has looked healthier than it has for months, and the offensive line is building. Is there a chance the G.O.A.T can go on another Super Bowl run? Or are they what they’ve been all year, a league average team?
The Cowboys, after losing in week 1 against the Bucs, quickly went about going on a winning streak. Despite losing quarterback Dak Prescott, backup Cooper Rush propelled the Cowboys to a 4-1 record, before losing to divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, in week 6. After his backup kept the team afloat, Prescott came back in and led the Cowboys on a tear through the middle part of the season, torching teams weekly, however they have stalled over the last month of the season, particularly defensively.
My numbers say this is an obvious Cowboys bet, but I just can’t get the fact it’s Tom Brady out of my head. He has never lost to the Cowboys, ever. He has a tremendous record in the playoffs (35-12), and takes on an opposing quarterback in Dak Prescott who only has 1 career playoff win in 4 appearances. He has struggled on the biggest stage, and I just cannot accept Tom Brady as an underdog. I expect a tight game, and when it comes down to the crunch, give me Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr for the win.
Alternate Bet:
Dak Prescott 1+ interceptions - $1.72 @ NEDS (1.5u)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
$2.26 (2 Units)
