The Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet for the second time, but this time, it will be with a much bigger stake on the line. Will the Cowboys eliminate Tom Brady and the Bucs? Or will Tampa Bay send Dallas packing for an early vacation? Check out our preview of this Cowboys vs Buccaneers game in the Wild-Card Round of the 2022-23 NFL playoffs.
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Betting Preview for the Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers AFC Wild Card Game on January 16, 2023
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
When: Monday, January 16, 2023, 8:15 PM ET
Line: Dallas Cowboys (-2.5) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.5) – view all 2023 NFL lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Betting on the Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)
Regular Season Record: 12-5
The Cowboys are coming off a letdown 26-6 road loss to the Washington Commanders to end their 2022 NFL regular-season schedule. However, that loss shouldn’t define Dallas, which has one of the most lethal offenses in the NFL. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys finished fourth in the regular season in scoring offense with 27.5 points per game. Sure, the Cowboys scored just a field goal in their 19-3 home loss to Tampa Bay way back in Week 1, but that was also in a game where Prescott injured his hand and exited from. Prescott is healthy now and supported in the backfield by a rushing attack that was second overall with 1.4 rushing touchdowns per contest and ninth with 135.2 rushing yards per outing. Tampa Bay’s run defense has been suspect this season, and that could be torched by the pair of Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott.
The Cowboys are 10-1 against the spread in their last 11 games after a loss.
Betting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2.5)
Regular Season Record: 8-9
Tom Brady knows what time it is. Even though he’s already 45, Brady is still a quarterback to be trusted in the playoffs. There’s no quarterback out there today who has more playoff experience than Brady, who passed for 212 yards and a touchdown with an interception on 18/27 completions in Week 1 versus the Cowboys. While Tampa Bay’s attack wasn’t really all that spectacular or elite in the regular season, that can be ignored in the playoffs because of the Tom Brady factor. Having said that, it could the Bucs’ defense that will lead them to a win against the turnover-prone Cowboys. Prescott has been turnover-prone this season, having thrown 15 interceptions in the regular season. Tampa Bay was ninth in the NFL in the regular season with just 324.3 total yards allowed per game.
The Buccaneers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five playoff games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Buccaneers win, 23-20.
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