FREE: NFL Thursday Night Football Week 1 – Our Expert Tips & Staking Plan

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2020/21 Season results

Profit/Loss: +22.57 units
ROI: 10%
Strike rate: 50%

Buccaneers looking to open their title defence with a win

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open the season as has become tradition for the Super Bowl Champions and history is on their side. 13 of the past 16 teams in their position have started with a win and the Bucs are strong favourites to make that 14.

The atmosphere at the stadium is likely to be electric with a full set of fans for the first time in a long time. We only have last week’s college football to go on but there seemed to be a big boost for home teams with them covering at an excellent rate.

They are a strong team throughout but up front on defence they are phenomenal. That just happens to be going up against a weaker than normal Cowboys offensive line. Expect them to put Dak Prescott under a lot of pressure.

Tom Brady continues to show that he can get it done well into his forties and he will be looking to end the season with yet another ring.

Cowboys need defence to step up

On offence the Cowboys have arguably the most talented group of players in the league. Prescott, Zeke Elliot, Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Blake Jarwin can rival anyone, including the Chiefs. There is going to be question marks over Prescott until he proves he is ok after the awful ankle injury that ended his 2020 season early, but I have no doubts over him.

What they do need though is the defence to take a big step forward. A year ago they ended the season as the 31st ranked team in the league and that is not good enough. Those of you that have read my season preview will know I am high on the Cowboys this season. I expect new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to get a lot more out of these players. He may have struggled in the end in Atlanta but his time as a defensive coach that got him the job should not be underestimated. Dallas made some nice additions in the draft and free agency and if they can even be an average unit then the offence will win many games for them.

Buccaneers too strong

As mentioned already, this game historically favours the home team and I can’t see past that here. I think Dallas can give them a game and this one should be a fun one, but the class of Tampa Bay will give them the edge. 8.5 points is a big spread though, and I would much rather take the points in this one, even if the Bucs win outright. Giving more than a touchdown to an offence as potent as the Cowboys just isn’t something I like to do too often.

I do think we will see defensive improvements from Dallas and for that reason I am going to back the under. We know how strong both these teams can be on offence, but don’t be surprised to see a cagey first half as some of these players see their first action in eight or nine months.