Anybody who has been riding with me this season knows I can handicap. I am a Tampa BUCS fan, and know this team, and NFL football very well.
Let me explain something to my fellow cappers about this game.
SORRY ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THIS, BUT THERE IS MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.
Dallas is WAY over-rated, and under-coached. (which is bad)
Tampa is Under-Rated and Over-coached.(which is good and bad)
I'll start off here by saying why Dallas has problems.
1) Wade Phillips IS NOT THE coach of this team, Jason Garret is, and that creates internal conflict between who is supposed to be in charge, and who REALLY is in charge.
2) Jerry Jones thinks he can throw a bunch of talent together, and win games. That is not the way it works in the NFL. TEAM is a concept that will take teams deep into the playoffs (N.E. or NYG anybody?) Dallas does not have a team, they have talent.
3) Brad Johnson is garbage. How do I know, I watched him play in Tampa for four years, and afterward. He is very very immobile, and that is not what you want form QB when you are playing the BUCS. If TB pressures him, he will throw picks for sure.
4) Dallas has big, strong, physical recievers that will give TB DB match-up problems all day. If Johnson can get the ball to them, Dallas may win.
5) Dallas is very weak on defense, and without decent DB's, and no Roy Williams to stop the run, this will provide match-up problems for Dallas against TB run attack.
Now lets talk Tampa BUCS.
1) The offense is not stellar, by far. They can run the ball, but passing is just now coming around (I mean big plays), but TB has, and it seems like always will, have trouble putting teams away, or blowing out teams.
2) The defense is strong this year, particuarly against the run. This is bad news for Dallas as Barber opens up play action and roll outs. Dont worry about roll outs though (which Dallas Offense thrives off) b/c Brad Johnson cannot run. If Barber gets stuffed, it will be a long day for Dallas. TB DBs are amongst the best, but any match up on Rhonde Barber will be a problem for TB. He is too small to cover those big Dallas recievers.
3) If Galloway and Cadillac plays, it will be trouble for Dallas. Both players bring more to the BUCS than they alredy have. The BUCS to me, are one of the better teams in the NFC right now already, so you go figure.
ALL and all, I would say, if Dallas did not have so many injuries, they would win the game hands down. But key components of Dallas offense and defense is missing, and it has showed last two weeks, and it will contiue to show. Vegas is telling us something with this point spread. You should listen. The public LOVES Dallas, and this is bait for the public. Nobody respects Tampa Bay this year, and they WILL suprise people this year if they havent already. TB is a better TEAM than Dallas, although Dallas has more talent (to yall). Expect a Dallas loss this week. Dallas could win though. Penalties could kill Tampa, and have been drive killers in the past. Also, if they cant get pressure on Johnson, he may eat that secondary up with those big recievers. And last, Tampa traditionally has not played well in Dallas, however, Parcells was the coach then, and Gurden got out-coached in those past games. Also TB Rays may be a early week distraction for the team and fans, and that is a little concerning, but not by much. Neither Garrett or Phillips are better coaches than Gruden, so take it as it is.
Im taking Tampa this week. Dallas is nearing an implosion, and it could happen this week with a Dallas loss.
GL either way you go.