NFL Week 15
Cowboys (7-6) @ Buccaneers (4-9) - 9 of 13 Cowboy games this year were decided by 4 or less points or in OT, including last four, with Pokes losing last two weeks in agonizing fashion; now they visit freefalling Bucs squad that lost last seven games (1-6 vs spread), giving up 41 unanswered points to bad Jaguar team last week. Dallas won 11 of 14 series games, winning last three by combined score of 85-40; Bucs scored 16 or less points in four of last five series games. Cowboys are 2-4 on road, with both wins coming in OT (@ 49ers/ Redskins); they’re 2-7-1 as a favorite this year, 0-2-1 on road. Bucs are 2-6 as a dog, 1-1 at home. Pokes split last four visits here, winning 34-21 in last visit here, in ’09 opener. NFC East favorites are 6-13-1 vs spread in non-divisional games, 3-4-1 on road; NFC South underdogs are 6-8, 2-2 at home. Four of Bucs’ last five home games stayed under total.
Saturday Night Football: Cowboys at Buccaneers
By Covers.com
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7, 47)
THE STORY: The Dallas Cowboys were less than six minutes from putting a stranglehold on the NFC East race and a playoff berth a week ago. But, as has been the case for much of the season, the Cowboys couldn't stand prosperity, blew a 12-point lead in the final 3 1/2 minutes and dropped a 37-34 decision to the New York Giants, their bitter division rival. So, instead of holding a two-game lead with three to play, Dallas finds itself in a tie with the Giants atop the NFC East as it prepares to visit the reeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night.
TV: NFL Network, 8:20 p.m. ET.
LINE: Cowboys -7, O/U 46.5
WEATHER: Cloudy skies and 6-mph winds are in the forecast for Tampa. Game-time temperatures will be in the low 60s.
ABOUT THE COWBOYS (7-6, 4-8-1 ATS): Dallas did more than lose a football game against the Giants. Rookie running back DeMarco Murray was lost for the season with a fractured ankle. Murray had ripped off three 100-yard games and helped sparked a four-game winning streak, but his injury puts oft-injured Felix Jones back in the starting lineup. Jones ran for 106 yards on 16 carries against the Giants. QB Tony Romo threw a season-high four TD passes and guided Dallas into position for a game-tying field goal that was blocked. He has thrown for 15 scores and two interceptions in the last six games.
ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (4-9, 4-9 ATS): Since beating New Orleans on Oct. 16 to move to 4-2 on the season, Tampa Bay has unraveled, losing seven consecutive games. The Buccaneers were pounded at Jacksonville 41-14 last week, and they have absorbed a pair of brutal defeats at home during the skid, falling to Houston (37-9) and NFC South rival Carolina (38-19). Sore-armed QB Josh Freeman has thrown a league-high 18 interceptions after being picked off only six times last season. The defense has been equally inept by allowing an NFC-worst 370 points, including at least 35 points in four of the past five games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Dallas, which has won the last three against the Bucs, signed veteran RB Sammy Morris this week.
2. Tampa Bay has not lost eight straight games since 1987.
3. “It’s great for you guys to scare my family half to death and talk about that stuff all throughout. ... For me, a chance to ruin (Cowboys coach) Jason Garrett’s season, and let you talk about him.” – Bucs coach Raheem Morris on rumors he could be fired.
TRENDS:
Favorite is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings.
Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
PREDICTION: Cowboys 34, Buccaneers 20. Dallas breezes to snap its two-game losing streak.