Play-offs time. Wild Card Weekend, as the hopefuls are whittled down yet further. Let’s pop an irresistible NFC clash under the microscope, and see who we fancy to progress.
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, early hours of Tuesday morning UK (01.15)
It’s been a pretty traumatic season for the Bucs. They won the NFC South, but with a losing record. The Division no-one wanted to win. Apparently. Tom Brady has endured much-publicised domestic travails, and given this and more they’ll be relieved just to be in the hunt still.
Dallas made a great fist of chasing down the exceptional Eagles in the NFC East, and hopes are high for America’s Team.
Betting; Cowboys 8/11, Bucs 23/20; Game total points, 45.5. Spread, Cowboys -2.5, Bucs +2.5. Lines and odds can fluctuate between now and game time.
Intriguing, that the traders see this as a very tight affair. Tampa Bay have home-field advantage, sure, but on form shown this season Dallas surely have the edge. Both teams have defensive injury woes, but the Cowboys have an enviable record of turnovers and sacks. Brady beware.
TB do have a couple of experienced receivers in great nick – Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Dallas will look to Prescott to connect with CeeDee Lamb, and to the rushing power of Zeke Elliott. A postseason run (or not) is how Dallas are invariably judged, and of course though Tampa are recent Super Bowl winners with the evergreen Brady, they’ve not been at that level since.
Dallas have the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory now and then, but I hope this won’t be such an occasion. It’s a wonderful opportunity.
Selection .. Dallas -2.5 @ 10/11, Dallas money line to win @ 8/11
