Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
Spread
+8.5
NFL Predictions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Predictions
Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 8:15pm EST at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
@
Dallas
Cowboys
Spread
-8.5
50%
50%
Spread
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +8.5
Dallas Cowboys -8.5
Moneyline
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +360
Dallas Cowboys -470
Total
Over 47.5 (-115)
Under 47.5 (-105)
Who wins this game?
Professional Picks
18 available
Professional Picks On This Game
Tom Strickland
Total pick
Wes Salvato
Spread pick
Garrett Perry
Spread pick
Don Williams
Spread pick
Charles Avery
Spread pick
Charles Avery
Total pick
Oliver Peters
Spread pick
Oliver Peters
Total pick
Bryan Pratt
Total pick
Casper Kohke
Total pick
Brooke Smolka
Spread pick
King Jon Sanderson
Total pick
Scott Steele
Spread pick
Percy Walker
Total pick
Eli Rothstein
Spread pick
Eli Rothstein
Total pick
Chris Cohen
Spread pick
Chris Cohen
Total pick
Buccaneers vs. Cowboys Prediction: Dallas Favored, but Pass at -455
Analysis updated October 7, 2026 at 7:40 AM CDT
Dallas owns clear offensive advantages in the available matchup data, while Tampa Bay's run defense could make an 8.5-point margin difficult to trust.
Dallas has the clearest matchup edge
Dallas is an 8.5-point home favorite and a -455 moneyline choice at SportsPicksForum, while Tampa Bay is +350. Sharp Football Analysis ranks the Cowboys fourth in overall offense and the Buccaneers 10th in defense, supporting Dallas as the likely winner but not justifying the expensive moneyline by itself.
The same model ranks Dallas fourth in passing offense against Tampa Bay's 18th-ranked passing defense. It also gives the Cowboys a major pressure advantage against a Tampa Bay offense ranked 27th overall, giving Dallas two concrete ways to control the game.
Why the spread is harder to back
Tampa Bay ranks second in rushing defense in the Sharp Football Analysis model, while Dallas is ninth in rushing offense. That matchup could limit one part of the Cowboys' attack and makes laying 8.5 points less appealing.
Dallas also ranks 32nd in overall defense, so Tampa Bay has a favorable matchup despite its low offensive ranking. With no confirmed starters, injury information, recent results or line movement available, there isn't enough evidence to project a reliable margin or score. Dallas is the likely winner, but both the -455 moneyline and -8.5 spread are passes.
Pick
Dallas Cowboys
Confidence
low
Betting lean
Pass