Skip to main content

Buccaneers vs. Cowboys Early Picks, Predictions & Odds for SNF Week 16

Philip Wood

Last Updated: December 17, 2024 11:35 AM EST • 3 min 41 sec read.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they clash with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The Bucs come into this matchup sitting 10th in the Super Bowl odds.

The Buccaneers vs. Cowboys early picks based on the Sunday Night Football odds suggest the red-hot Bucs will keep their sizzling streak alive while inching closer to securing a playoff berth. Baker Mayfield and his team are the 4-point favorites despite Sunday’s 8:20 p.m. (NBC/Peacock) game being played at AT&T Stadium.

While the Bucs are hot, so are the Cowboys. They’ve won three of their last four games with Cooper Rush under center, and Dallas just earned a 16-point win over the Carolina Panthers.

Who holds the advantage on Sunday for one of your NFL Week 16 predictions?

My early Buccaneers vs. Cowboys prediction: Cowboys +4

NFL picks made Tuesday; odds subject to change. Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Prediction: Cowboys +4

Best odds: | Implied probability: 52.38%

Up To $1,500 Back In Bonus Bets

Bonus bets will expire in 7 days. One new customer offer only. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Rush has looked like a solid starter over the last four weeks, and he’s put his team in a position to win every game. He's thrown eight touchdown passes with just one interception during that stretch. Even better, last week he set a season-high with three touchdown tosses. He'll be the difference in this game.

The Buccaneers’ secondary has been struggling for most of this season while giving up 247.7 passing yards per game. That’s the league's third-worst mark. The unit is also allowing 1.6 passing touchdowns per outing.

The Bucs have scored 26-plus points in four consecutive games while improving their position in the NFL playoff odds. They just put up 40 on the Los Angeles Chargers, who boast one of the league's best defenses.

But the Cowboys’ defense is playing better lately while allowing just 20.3 points per game over the team's last three matchups, and the unit just made a hot Panthers offense look terrible. The Buccaneers will win this game, but the Cowboys should be able to keep it within a field goal at home.

Don't miss our guide for how to bet on NFL or this week's best sportsbook promos.

Buccaneers vs. Cowboys live odds

See the NFL odds from our best NFL betting sites for every Week 16 game.

Moneyline

  • Buccaneers best odds: -200 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 66.67%
  • Cowboys best odds: +170 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 37.04%

There hasn’t been much moneyline movement yet, but the minor shifting has been in favor of the Cowboys.

Even though they’ve won four consecutive games, the Bucs have beaten only one team with more than three victories during that stretch. I don’t expect the public to be overly sold on them as the road team despite Tampa's impressive win last week.

The Cowboys had won three of four and played very well in their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. They'll be a popular upset pick, even if Dallas isn't getting much support against the spread.

Buccaneers vs. Cowboys Early Picks
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb before the 2024 NFC wild-card game against the Green Bay Packers. Photo by Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images.

Spread

  • Buccaneers best odds: -4 (-110) via BetMGM
  • Cowboys best odds: +4 (-110) via BetMGM

Currently, 74% of bettors are backing the Buccaneers in this game, and yet the spread has dropped from 4.5 to 4 at all of our NFL prop betting sites.

The books are clearly seeing something the public is missing, as that type of support would normally result in the spread growing rather than shrinking. While this number could drop to 3.5, I don’t envision it hitting the key number.

And the spread will almost certainly grow to 4.5 if the public continues to support the Bucs.

Over/Under

  • Over best odds: 49 (-110) via BetMGM
  • Under best odds: 49.5 (-110) via Caesars

The total opened at 47, and it's already shot up to 49.5 at four of our top NFL parlay betting sites.

Right now 63% of bettors are backing the Over ahead of this game. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the number continue to rise considering what both offenses have been doing recently.

The Buccaneers are averaging 28.8 points per game, and while the Cowboys are only putting up 21.3 per week this season, they’re averaging 25.7 over their last three contests. With both defenses allowing more than 23 points per outing, it’s not surprising the public is expecting a high-scoring affair.

How to watch Buccaneers vs. Cowboys

  • When: Sunday, Dec. 22
  • Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. ET
  • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
  • How to watch: NBC/Peacock
  • Weather: Indoors
  • Favorite: Buccaneers -4 (-110 via BetMGM)

NFL betting odds pages

Here are our best NFL betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Related pages

Written By:
Philip Wood
Phil has covered sports betting since 2016, and he has been with SportsBook Review since 2022. He previously hosted the College Football Pick 'Em podcast for CanesInsight.com. He is always looking for value, especially on lines that just seem too good to be true. His belief is that if a line doesn't make sense just assume oddsmakers know something you don't. He also loves in-season futures. There is so much value to be had as the public overreacts weekly. Bettors tend to forget just how long NFL and college football seasons are. After all, the Green Bay Packers were 2-5 in 2023 and they made it to the Divisional Round. When deciding where to bet, it comes down to value over everything. +100 is always better than -110. An alumnus of The U, Phil always holds out hope that the next head coach will be the one who turns the football program around. He is also a diehard Detroit Lions fan and is willing to forgive Dan Campbell for forgetting that a kicker can be useful.