Stephen Nover's NFL Thursday Cowboys-Bucs Blockbuster
(NFL) Dallas vs. Tampa Bay, 09/09/2021 8:20 PM, Score: 29 - 31
Point Spread: -6.50 | -115.00 Tampa Bay (Home)
Result: Loss
I don't see the Cowboys being able to stay within double digits of the Buccaneers.

Unlike last season, when it took them half the season for them to gel under new QB Tom Brady, the Buccaneers are fully in sync. The Super Bowl champs have all of their starters back and their deep set of receivers should carve up a Dallas defense that was historically bad last season.

I don't expect the Cowboys to surrender 29.6 points a game and permit 34 TD passes like in 2020. But I certainly don't expect them to be one of the better defenses units either as they make the change to new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

This will be Dak Prescott's first game since suffering a horrific broken ankle last year. He'll be behind a thin offensive line minus several players due to injuries and COVID. The Buccaneers are top-notch against the run so I'm not expecting a big game either from Ezekiel Elliott.

Super Bowl champions opening at home are a dominant 18-2 SU, 14-4-2 ATS.