Cowboys vs. Buccaneers odds, line, predictions: NFL Kickoff Game 2021 picks from proven expert who’s 27-18

Teams with postseason aspirations will meet in the 2021 NFL Kickoff Game when the Dallas Cowboys battle the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Sept. 9. The Cowboys (6-10 in 2020) have not made the postseason since 2018 and have not advanced past the divisional round since winning Super Bowl XXX in 1995. The Buccaneers (11-5) are looking to reach the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since a four-year stretch from 1999 to 2002. Tampa Bay last had consecutive winning seasons in 2007 and 2008.

Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay is a 7.5-point favorite in the latest Cowboys vs. Buccaneers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 51.5. Before making any Buccaneers vs. Cowboys picks, make sure to check out the expert NFL predictions from SportsLine NFL expert Emory Hunt.

Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007, and a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette. He knows the game from a player’s perspective.

Hunt has had plenty of success in games involving the Cowboys. In fact, he’s on a 27-18 roll on his against-the-spread NFL picks involving Dallas, returning more than $700 to $100 players. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Hunt has set his sights on Buccaneers vs. Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game 2021 and just revealed his NFL expert picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting trends for Cowboys vs. Bucs:

• Cowboys vs. Buccaneers spread: Tampa Bay -7.5
• Cowboys vs. Buccaneers over-under: 51.5 points
• Cowboys vs. Buccaneers money line: Dallas +310, Tampa Bay -400
• DAL: Cowboys are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games as underdogs
• TB: Over is 8-2 in the Buccaneers’ last 10 games as home favorites

Why the Buccaneers can cover

Tampa Bay’s defense was also a major part of the Buccaneers’ championship run. Tampa Bay allowed 327.1 yards per game, sixth-best in the league. Leading the defense was linebacker Devin White, who recorded 140 tackles, including 97 solo, with nine sacks for 70 yards. He also registered 18 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. One of his best games of the year was during the Bucs’ 31-26 win in the NFC Championship Game over the Green Bay Packers. In that game, he made 15 tackles, including nine solo. Against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, he had 12 tackles, including eight solo.

Cornerback Carlton Davis was also one of the Buccaneers’ top tacklers in 2020. He finished the regular season with 68 tackles, including 52 solo. He also had 18 pass breakups, tops on the team, and added four interceptions. Davis was a beast in the playoffs, making nine tackles in the NFC wild-card playoff victory at Washington and adding seven against the Packers.

Why the Cowboys can cover

Dallas is looking to rebound from an injury-plagued 2020 and boasts two top-notch receivers in second-year standout CeeDee Lamb and veteran Amari Cooper. Lamb proved to be a weapon, finishing with 74 receptions for 935 yards (12.6 average) and five touchdowns. He had 18 explosive plays, tops on the team, while adding 46 first-down conversions.

For the second year in a row, Cooper led the Cowboys in receptions, finishing with 92 for 1,114 yards (12.1 average) and five TDs. Cooper also had 13 plays of 20 or more yards and converted 54 first downs. For his career, he has 449 receptions for 6,211 yards (13.8 average) and 38 touchdowns, including 19 as a member of the Cowboys.

How to make Cowboys vs. Buccaneers picks

Hunt is leaning under on the point total, and he’s also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s only sharing that pick and the rest of his NFL expert picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Buccaneers vs. Cowboys? And what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Emory Hunt’s Cowboys vs. Buccaneers pick and analysis, all from the NFL expert who’s 27-18 on picks involving Dallas, and find out.