The Cowboys open their 50th season on Sunday at Tampa Bay. The overwhelming consensus is that the Cowboys will manage to win their third consecutive opener against a Buccaneer squad that is currently rebuilding.
Here is a run-down of the predictions.
NFL.com
On NFL Playbook, Sterling Sharpe, Joe Theismann, and Brian Baldinger each predicted a Dallas win. In fact, Sharpe thinks that the Cowboys have a chance to make it to Super Bowl XLIV.
Dallas Morning News
Among the four columnists voting in the Dallas Morning News poll, only Rick Gosselin predicted a Tampa Bay win. That is disconcerting, given that he is the least likely among the four to criticize the Cowboys.
Rick Gosselin: Tampa Bay
Tim Cowlishaw: Dallas
Kevin Sherrington: Dallas
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Dallas
ESPN experts were unanimous in their picks for the Dallas game, with all taking the Cowboys to win. No surprise there.
Will Allen: Dallas
Mike Golic: Dallas
Merrill Hoge: Dallas
Ron Jaworski: Dallas
Chris Mortensen: Dallas
Adam Schefter: Dallas
Mark Schlereth: Dallas
Seth Wickersham: Dallas
Dallas won 65% of the Accuscore simulations, with an average score of 22.3 to 17.2. Here is a summary:
The Bucs defense fell apart the final month of 2008, but they still
should be a better than average defense in 09. They also have a
potentially great running game with Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham, and a
healthy Cadillac Williams. The Cowboys are winning 60 percent of
simulations, but if TB can intercept Tony Romo at least 1 time and the
team has at least 115 rushing yards TB improves its chances to 54
percent. Tony Romo is averaging 1.4 TDs per simulation. When he has at
least 2 TDs the Cowboys win over 70 percent of the time, but when he
has 1 or 0 the cowboys win just 53 percent of the time.
Dallas did better in the WhatIfSports simulations, winning 74.3% of the games.
My Guess
Although the Buccaneers might be able to keep the ball out of the Cowboys’ hands thanks to a good running game, Tampa Bay does not have the firepower that Dallas has. Nevertheless, I think that game will feature more scoring than some expect. Dallas will pull ahead early and hold off a late Tampa rally.
