NFL Week 15 Saturday Night Football: 5 Hot Tips for the Big Game

Simply put, this one is huge for the Dallas Cowboys.

On Saturday night, they'll travel to Tampa Bay in desperate need of a win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Two straight losses to the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants have the Cowboys now staring at a wild-card spot. A win in this one is vital considering they'll have to travel to New York in the final round.

For the Bucs, they've been woeful this year. There's no hiding it, and there's no point in softening the words. If the league didn't have Tyler Palko, Josh Freeman would have to seriously be considered as the worst starting quarterback in the league currently.

The once Pro Bowl quarterback has thrown an average of less than one touchdown per game, but it's the 20 interceptions that have the Tampa faithful frustrated this year. Not even Philip Rivers has thrown that many interceptions.

Offensively, they just haven't gotten it going this year, averaging only 17.8 points per game. They haven't had much on the other side of the football either—allowing 28.5 points per game.

Yet we know that somewhere in there, Josh Freeman still has what it takes to get a win, and he can pull it out at any time. Don't believe me? Ask the New Orleans Saints earlier in the year.

And because Freeman is so temperamental and can turn it on at times, the Dallas Cowboys will still see this one as a real threat to their playoff chances. Which, when you think about it, so is every other game they'll play for the rest of the season.

So whether you're a Dallas fan desperately wanting your team to get home, a loyal Buccaneer who just wants a win or simply a football fan with nothing better to do on a Saturday night, here's your five hot-to-trot tips for the big game to make sure that whatever the result, you're laughing all the way home.

Which, if you're at home, will be really easy.

1. Head to head

Dallas will win because Tony Romo is good enough to win. The offense hasn't struggled this year and should have won against the Giants last week. The 24.4 points per game they're averaging does not reflect the domination they can have over defenses, and against the 29th ranked Tampa defense, this one has the potential to be a good training run for the Cowboys.

Romo and the 'Boys won't let off either. They need to silence all the doubters watching and will be looking to send a statement back to the rest of the National Football League that the Cowboys aren't going to perform their usual end-of-season flop just yet.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys to win

2. Spread

Last week, Jacksonville hung 40 unanswered points on the Tampa defense. When previewing that game, I wrote that it was more of a statement on just how bad the Bucs are, rather than a sign of the strength of the Jaguars.

After watching them get smacked up by the Falcons, it turns out I was right.

Matt Ryan and the offense were literally playing the game of stand and deliver, and defensively, the Jags had no answers.

So considering Freeman struggled against the Jaguar defensive line, imagine how he's going to fare against the likes of DeMarcus Ware and the Dallas defensive line, which has recorded 35 sacks already on the year.

Prediction: Dallas Cowboys to cover the spread

3. Total points for the game

Tampa's defense will have it rough in this one, as they take on an offensive line that has only allowed 20 sacks for the season so far. With both teams featuring in 60-point encounters, the line for the total points should sit somewhere around the high-40s.

However, with Dallas only averaging 24.4 points per game for the season and no DeMarco Murray, I think Romo will be more grind-it-out rather than try-to-reach-100. And I think the defense—which let Eli Manning steal the win away from them late—will be more a shut-them-down rather than try-to-smack-them-up-and-always-try-to-take-the-interception.

Though that second approach sounds like fun.

Prediction: Under total points for the game (take anything down to around 48 points)

4. First scoring play for the game

As hard as I've been on Tampa Bay so far in this article, I just can't see them offering much in this one—offense or defense. And because of that, I think the next two tips will be all Dallas.

So field goal or touchdown? Three thoughts.

Firstly, will Tony Romo come out all guns blazing, throwing it long, or will he be more conservative—solid throws, take the first down and keep the football? I think the latter.

Secondly, will Dallas struggle without DeMarco Murray? I think Felix Jones is more than capable of running the football but won't have the same instant impact that Murray has, and he might not get the conversion on a third-down situation that they need.

Third, will Dan Bailey bring his kicking shoes or will he be bring his ice skates? Aside from that being an incredible pun, I think after the icing incident, sorry, incidents, Bailey will do just fine in this one.

Prediction: Dallas field goal as the first scoring play

5. First touchdown scorer

I'd like to say that after successfully tipping Ryan Grant for the Green Bay game last week at 10/1 and Julio Jones for Thursday Night Football at 12/1, this hot-to-trot tip is where the money will be made.

Whilst Romo will be first-class in this one, I think they will come out rather conservative and will be looking to not turn it over, rather than to score a touchdown. This will help the field-goal situation, but it will also help the Cowboys' running game.

Murray has been brilliant in recent weeks, and the Dallas offense has folded him into their style of play well—giving him plenty of carries. His replacement, Felix Jones, is still more than capable of running the football effectively for the Cowboys, and against a side that has allowed the most rushing touchdowns in the entire league (yes, including the Colts), Jones looks like a great option for the opening touchdown of the game.

Prediction: Felix Jones to score the first touchdown