The Dallas Cowboys visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 16. Primary markets for the game show the Cowboys as spread favorites and on the moneyline. Cowboys vs. Bucs odds feature a total set at .
In this article, we break down everything you need to know before placing a bet on the game, including team matchups, key metrics, weather and the best available NFL Wild Card odds. Click on the odds anywhere in this post to bet now.
Cowboys vs. Bucs Odds: Spread, Moneyline, Over/Under
When using the Cowboys vs. Bucs odds table above, click the dropdown menu and select the type of bet you wish to make.
Betting the point spread is when you wager on how many points a team will win or lose by. A plus sign in front of the spread denotes the underdog, and a minus sign denotes the favorite.
In this case, the Cowboys would have to win by at least three points if you bet them to cover the point spread (-2.5). A spread bet on the Buccaneers would win if they win the game or lose by fewer than three.
Betting the moneyline is simply betting on which particular team will win a game.
The betting total is the number of combined points the two teams will score. Bettors can choose to bet the over or under on how many total points will be scored in the game.
- NFL Divisional Playoff Odds for next weekend
Cowboys At Buccaneers Player Props
In the props tool search bar, type in a player. This is a valuable tool that allows bettors to compare odds and stats when considering a prop bet. You can also head over to our NFL playoff props post for Monday Night Football for more specific angles from our staff for this game.
Cowboys At Buccaneers Betting News & Angles
Use this rolling, updating list of news bites about each team to help your handicapping for Cowboys vs. Bucs odds.
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Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys Weather
This game will be played outdoors at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The forecast as of Tuesday calls for 44-degree temperatures, cloudy skies, and minimal winds around 3 mph.
Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers Injury Report
Dallas Injuries
| Player | Pos. | Injury | Status | Avg. Snap Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Biadasz | C | Ankle | Probable | 71.8 |
| Tyron Smith | OT | Knee | Questionable | 69.3 |
| Leighton Vander Esch | LB | Neck | Probable | 57.2 |
| Demarcus Lawrence | DE | Foot | Questionable | 41.0 |
| Johnathan Hankins | DT | Pectoral | Questionable | 24.5 |
| Devante Bond | LB | Knee | Out | – |
| Ian Bunting | TE | Neck | Out | – |
Tampa Bay Injuries
| Player | Pos. | Injury | Status | Avg. Snap Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Leverett | OG | Knee | Questionable | 72.5 |
| Donovan Smith | OT | Foot | Probable | 71.5 |
| Carlton Davis | CB | Shoulder | Probable | 67.8 |
| Mike Evans | WR | Illness | Probable | 62.3 |
| Sean Murphy-Bunting | CB | Shoulder | Probable | 45.8 |
| John Molchon | OG | Ankle | Questionable | 42.0 |
| Julio Jones | WR | Knee | Probable | 35.3 |
| Carl Nassib | OLB | Pectoral | Probable | 24.5 |
| Anthony Chesley | CB | Undisclosed | Out | 18.1 |
| Kyle Rudolph | TE | Knee | Questionable | 8.9 |
Cowboys Offense Vs. Buccaneers Defense
| Cowboys Offense | Stats (Rank) | Buccaneers Defense |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5 (4) | Points/Gm | 21.1 (13) |
| 0.419 (5) | Points/Play | 0.311 (5) |
| 354.9 (11) | Yards/Gm | 324.3 (9) |
| 219.8 (14) | Pass Yards/Gm | 203.6 (9) |
| 135.2 (9) | Rush Yards/Gm | 120.7 (15) |
| 5.4 (15) | Yards/Play | 5.1 (10) |
| 6.7 (10) | Yards/Pass | 6.1 (7) |
| 4.3 (18) | Yards/Rush | 4.5 (19) |
| 45.45% (5) | 3rd Down % | 36.86% (6) |
| 71.43% (1) | Red Zone % | 62.5% (26) |
| 1.4 (17) | Turnovers/Game | 1.2 (20) |
| 4.63% (5) | Sack Rate | 7.32% (12) |
Buccaneers Offense Vs. Cowboys Defense
| Buccaneers Offense | Stats (Rank) | Cowboys Defense |
|---|---|---|
| 18.4 (25) | Points/Gm | 20.1 (5) |
| 0.27 (30) | Points/Play | 0.311 (5) |
| 346.7 (15) | Yards/Gm | 330.2 (12) |
| 269.8 (2) | Pass Yards/Gm | 200.9 (8) |
| 76.9 (32) | Rush Yards/Gm | 129.3 (22) |
| 5.1 (25) | Yards/Play | 5.1 (7) |
| 6.1 (24) | Yards/Pass | 6.2 (9) |
| 3.4 (32) | Yards/Rush | 4.4 (17) |
| 37.4% (21) | 3rd Down % | 37.66% (9) |
| 52% (22) | Red Zone % | 52% (9) |
| 1.3 (14) | Turnovers/Game | 1.9 (1) |
| 2.85% (1) | Sack Rate | 8.94% (2) |
Cowboys At Buccaneers Advanced Stats
| Dallas Cowboys | Stats (Rank) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|
| +2.9% (15) | Offense DVOA | +0.4% (16) |
| -13.3% (2) | Defense DVOA | -2.9% (13) |
| +1.8% (10) | Special Teams DVOA | -4% (31) |
| -0.031 (12) | Rush Offense EPA/Play | -0.207 (32) |
| -0.126 (4) | Rush Defense EPA/Play | -0.084 (12) |
| +0.082 (9) | Pass Offense EPA/Play | +0.055 (14) |
| -0.059 (4) | Pass Defense EPA/Play | +0.014 (12) |
Cowboys At Buccaneers Betting Insights
Why The Cowboys Can Cover The Spread
All of the statistical indicators pretty much say this is a superior team all around compared to the Buccaneers. The Cowboys have the better offense, defense and special teams, and they especially excel in the passing game, the most important facet. Tampa Bay has simply not been able to unleash anything down the field in its passing offense, Mike Evans explosion against the Panthers aside.
Why The Buccaneers Can Cover The Spread
Dallas has gotten a ton of mileage out of its pass rush, but the Buccaneers do have a couple of ways of mitigating this strength. Chiefly, Tom Brady has been among the leaders this season in quickest throwing times. That has translated into the lowest sack rate in the NFL. The key will be what the Tampa receivers and backs can do after the catch. But, given how poor Dak Prescott has played of late, and the fact the Bucs are getting points at home here, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine them covering.
Reasons To Bet The Over
Tampa Bay throws the ball more often than any other team, and Dallas has been quite efficient for the most part in that department. Furthermore, the weather sets up for pretty much ideal passing conditions here, with minimal wind and no rain. Both QBs have also had their ugly moments in terms of turnovers too, with Prescott in particular having trouble avoiding handing opponents short fields.
Reasons To Bet The Under
Efficiency is certainly not the hallmark of this Bucs offense so far. Any scoring drive will presumably involve a slew of five-yard passes, which should keep the clock churning. And the Cowboys, after a mid-season offensive barrage, have petered out to close the season. Prescott’s play has fallen off, and the Bucs defense brings the sort of pressure that causes his play to plummet. These teams combined for just 22 points indoors last time out.
Cowboys At Buccaneers Matchups To Watch For
Cowboys Run Blocking Vs. Vita Vea
Dak Prescott is the sort of QB who can produce, but he needs the conditions to be pretty favorable in most cases. He struggles in must-pass situations against solid defenses. The Cowboys getting their running game going would open up play-action opportunities and more single coverage for CeeDee Lamb. Run-stuffing Tampa DL Vita Vea returned from injury for the team’s last meaningful game and then took off Week 18 to continue healing. He makes a big difference to this unit and notably missed the massacre at the hands of the 49ers.
Tom Brady Vs. Cowboys Pass Rush
Brady’s time to throw (via NFL Next Gen Stats) ranks first in the league. He’s a full 0.1 seconds ahead of second-place Joe Burrow, which might sound slim but actually matches the gap between Burrow and eighth-place Kyler Murray. He, not the offensive line, is the driving force behind the team’s first-place ranking in offensive sack rate. Given how short the team’s passing game has leaned this year, it can ill-afford any negative plays. Brady must keep Micah Parsons from disrupting things by getting the ball out with his customary speed.
Cowboys Tackles Vs. Buccaneers Pass Rush
Injuries have ravaged a position that has long been a strength of the Cowboys, their offensive tackle play. Now, they’re running out 40-year-old Jason Peters at left tackle while former standout Tyron Smith has tried to find his sea legs at right tackle after missing most of the season with an injury and then switching sides. Prescott has posted just a 67.7 passer rating under pressure this year according to PFF. Neither of these tackles has played well, with the loss of Terence Steele looking impactful. If the Bucs can win on the edges, it’s going to be a long day for this passing game.
Final Thoughts
In recent weeks, speculation around this NFL playoff odds — this matchup has looked likely for more than a month — put the Cowboys well north of -3, even close to -6 by some estimations. The Bucs were sputtering along, doing nothing to inspire, as the Cowboys seemed to be on solid footing. But, their final five games wound up looking shaky for varying reasons, and Dak Prescott’s propensity for negative plays has hurt the offense repeatedly. Now, we’re looking at a market consensus south of the key number.
At this point, with the value potentially sucked out of the number, it’s getting difficult to justify a bet on the Bucs. Particularly when one looks at the advanced stats, which paint the picture of a far superior Cowboys team. Tom Brady’s teams have often had a knack for late-season surges, but there’s been little sign of that from this one.
At the same time, the Cowboys have not looked that strong in some time, with the defense allowing piles of points and Prescott unable to protect the football.
The Bucs make some sense as a teaser bet this week at +2.5. And with some movement toward the over — the market was at 44.5 shortly after it opened — there may be an opportunity to take advantage of two questionable offenses facing solid defenses here by fading the market move.
Best of luck betting on Cowboys vs. Buccaneers odds.
