Cowboys vs. Buccaneers 2021 NFL Week 1 Odds, Preview and Prediction

By Carlos Chacon • September 6, 2021

The reigning Super Bowl champions host America’s Team in Thursday’s season opener in Tampa. The Buccaneers are looking to make it 2-for-2 in Lombardi Trophies with the eternal Tom Brady under center, while the Cowboys are looking to bounce back with a healthy Dak Prescott back in command of the offense.

The Cowboys hope to have a better season in 2021 than they did in 2020. Beating, or even hanging with the Bucs on the road won’t be an easy task. Is Dallas up to the challenge? Will Tampa show why they’re the second choice to win Super Bowl 56? Who’ll come out on top of this battle between two QB greats?

NitroBetting is ready to equip its bettors with all the latest previews and odds for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. This time, we look at the Thursday Night Football showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Find out more about the teams and the key players, event information, the latest NFL odds, and of course, helpful betting trends and expert betting predictions. Don’t forget to check out the latest 2021 NFL Preseason odds at out online Bitcoin sportsbook.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Information

Game week ?#GoBucs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 5, 2021

When: Thursday, September 9, 2021, 8:20 PM ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: NBC
Radio: KRLD-FM 105.3 THE FAN (Cowboys) / WXTB 97.9 FM (Buccaneers)
Live Stream:NFL Game Pass
NFL Odds: Cowboys (+7.5) / Buccaneers (-7.5)

Why Bet on the Dallas Cowboys?

2020 was a lost season for the Dallas Cowboys, who proved to be an inept football team without Dak Prescott running the offense. Dallas finished the previous season with a losing record for the first time since 2015 with a 6-10 mark after their starting QB went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 and derailed the team’s campaign very early on.

Prescott, who was on pace to have a historically great season under center before getting hurt, should put the Cowboys back in playoff contention, or in the thick of the division race at the very least. The former offensive Rookie of the Year will have plenty of weapons to work with once more, with Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb as his top options on offense.

Unfortunately, starting guard Zack Martin recently tested positive for COVID-19, which may cause issues for Elliott and Dallas’ running game in Week 1. A defensive unit that surrendered the fifth-most points in the league (29.6 PAPG) is also a concern facing a potent Tampa Bay offense.

Last season, Dallas had no trouble scoring. The problem stemmed from the other side of the ball where opponent routinely gashed Dallas’ D for 158.8 rushing yards, 227.6 passing yards, and 29.6 points per game.

The good news if you’re a Cowboys fan? Owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy knew they had to spend their draft capital on shoring up the defense. Dallas used their first six picks on defenders, including drafting the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite, SLB Micah Parsons.

Why Bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Not only did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win its second-ever Super Bowl title in just the first year with Tom Brady in town, but they’re also built to repeat this 2021 season given that most if not all of their starters from the title-winning campaign are returning.

Despite being in his mid-40s, Brady still had one of his best seasons in the NFL last year, throwing for over 4,600 yards and 40 touchdowns in the regular season. The seven-time SB champ has a plethora of stud receivers at his disposal once more, as Mike Evans, Antonio Brown, and Chris Godwin are each capable of finishing with 1,000-yard receiving campaigns this season.

Above all else, the Bucs’ formidable defense is basically intact just the same and should be able to contain a Dallas offense just getting back into the groove with Prescott back in the lineup.

In 2020, Tampa’s defense ranked first in rushing yards allowed per game. Opponents averaged 80.6 yards per on the ground. This season, the defense could be slightly better. When you win the Super Bowl and your entire offense returns, you have the luxury of shoring up your lone perceived weakness, depth.

Knowing this, Bruce Arians drafted Joe Tryon with Tampa’s first pick. Tryon doesn’t have to start to contribute in a positive way. Tryon will backup playmaker Shaquil Barrett. That should help Arians and Tampa fans sleep well at night.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers Betting Trends

The Cowboys went 2-6 on the road last season (SU/ATS).
The Cowboys are 3-2 in their last five games as underdogs (4-1 ATS).
The totals went over in each of the last four games where the Cowboys were not favored to win.
The Buccaneers went 5-3 at home last season (SU/ATS).
The Bucs are just 1-7 in their last eight regular-season meetings against Dallas since 2006 (3-4-1 ATS).
The totals have gone under in each of the Bucs’ last five games against the Cowboys.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers Expert Betting Predictions

Unless proven otherwise, the Bucs will remain heavy favorites to win on any given week this season with the sheer amount of players from last year’s winning run still on the team’s roster. Then again, the Cowboys possess a prolific offense that’s hard to keep up with regardless of the opposing defense that they face. That being said, this massive TNF showdown in Week 1 is more likely going to be a closely contested affair than an utter blowout in favor of the defending champs.

Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2021 NFL Regular Season. Stay tuned for more Football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.