Well we are here folks, the first game of the 2021 NFL season starts this Thursday with the defending Superbowl Champs taking on the Dallas Cowboys revitalized by having there star QB Dak Prescott back for the first time since his week 5 injury against the Giants last year. Whereas the Buccaneers have all of their main players back from their Superbowl winning season last year and look likely to make another big push again this year. QB Tom Brady looks as pristine as ever, and with all his weapons back up to full health plus the return of TE O.J Howard and Mike Evans having a full off-season to recover, they look ready to start the season. There defense is also as feared as ever having bringing back veteran LB Levonte David, OLB Shaq Barrett and ILB Kevin Minter as well as selecting rookie OLB Joe Tyron with the 32nd pick in the draft, the defense arguably is one of the best in the league.
The Buccs are rightly favorites in this game, with a full crowd expected at Raymond James Stadium and the Superbowl banner being revealed this Thursday the atmosphere will be electric for this one. A part of me wants to back the Cowboys +8 but the news of star G Zach Martin missing the game due to COVID-19 is huge and Lael Collins also struggling with a neck injury, the power of the Bucs D-Line could be too much for the Cowboys. With the game flow expected to be with the Buccs i can see Dak having to move around and scramble a lot as well as drop of passes to avoid getting sacked, which brings me onto my first bet.
I am taking Ezekiel Elliott over 3.5 receptions at 11/10 sky bet – Last year his average catches per game were 3.7 which is over the line currently available which we are getting at + money, in the first 5 games of last season, when Dak was in the lineup, Elliott averaged 5.2 catches per game. The Buccs elite run defense means he wont be getting touches there and I feel that Kellen Moore(Cowboys OC) will have plans to get Elliott his touches after a so called ‘Off Year’ for him in 2020 which still saw him hit 969 rushing yards and 338 receiving yards. I expect a big game for Elliott in the season opener.
FINAL INSIGHTS
If I were to pick a result in this one, I am leaning towards backing Dallas +8, however I love the over in this game, the total at 51 and I can see this being a good old fashion shootout, its the first time the full crowd has seen Brady in Tampa and the Cowboys will be well up for spoiling the show, last season the Cowboys passed this total in 4/5 games Dak played in whereas the Bucs passed this total 7/16 games last year and 2 landed on exactly 51. I cant see this game being a blowout, which is really when the games stayed under for Tampa. The bet = Total over 51 @ 5/6 most places
Thank you foe reading this article, lets hope we cant start of the season with some winners! I am also delighted to announce that the QB Whisperer Gurpal will be returning with his weekly QB player prop bet which is great! He had an astounding record last year so I am chuffed to have him back!
To end on a sad note the Flea Flicker Betting podcast and co-host Ross has left the show to do his own podcast, I wish Ross nothing but the best for his new Podcast and I am sure he will do just fine. But, in better news I am delighted to announce i have teamed up with Full 10 Yards for the podcast which allows me to have 3 other weekly guests joining me, I am delighted with this and I am sure that this will only improve the weekly listen and the quality of the picks included, as well as getting different opinions off different people! The first podcast will be released this Friday, look out on our Twitter @BettingFlea for this! There will be another article on Sunday for the Sunday slate of games, hope to see you then!
Flea Flicker Betting 