NFL Betting News - Saturday 12/17

[new york knight]

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.

[new york knight]

Saturday Night Football: Cowboys at Buccaneers
By Covers

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.

[new york knight]

Cowboys are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Cowboys are 17-36-2 ATS in their last 55 games as a road favorite.
Cowboys are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 games as a favorite.
Cowboys are 7-18-2 ATS in their last 27 games in December.
Cowboys are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Cowboys are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Cowboys are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Cowboys are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 2-12 ATS in their last 14 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Cowboys are 0-5 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Cowboys are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Cowboys are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
Cowboys are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games on grass.

[new york knight]

Buccaneers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 15.
Buccaneers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Buccaneers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
Buccaneers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Buccaneers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a home underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Buccaneers are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games as a home underdog.
Buccaneers are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 home games.
Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
Buccaneers are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games in December.
Buccaneers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss.
Buccaneers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
Buccaneers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
Buccaneers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points.
Buccaneers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Buccaneers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.

[new york knight]

Under is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 6-1 in Cowboys last 7 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Cowboys last 6 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 5-1 in Cowboys last 6 games in December.
Over is 7-2 in Cowboys last 9 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 20-7 in Cowboys last 27 games as a favorite of 3.5-10.0.
Over is 5-2 in Cowboys last 7 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
Over is 10-4 in Cowboys last 14 games following a S.U. loss.
Over is 10-4 in Cowboys last 14 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 12-5 in Cowboys last 17 games as a favorite.
Over is 14-6 in Cowboys last 20 vs. NFC.
Over is 18-8 in Cowboys last 26 games overall.

[new york knight]

Over is 3-0-1 in Buccaneers last 4 games in December.
Over is 4-0 in Buccaneers last 4 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-1 in Buccaneers last 6 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
Over is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games overall.
Over is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games following a S.U. loss.
Over is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games following a SU loss of more than 14 points.
Under is 5-2-1 in Buccaneers last 8 games in Week 15.
Over is 7-3-1 in Buccaneers last 11 home games.

[new york knight]

Favorite is 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings.
Home team is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.