Cowboys-Buccaneers player props: A breathtaking prime-time matchup

All season long we've had fun with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays, as we've tried to keep things light, using famous Thursday night appointment television show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets, and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs mean it's more serious for the players, we should be reminded that it's still just any other game for bettors and there's still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.

"I think that you think that a certain something is not all that it could be, when in fact, it is all that it should be and more!" - George, to his latest girlfriend, after rumors swirl about his manhood in the Hamptons.

The Cowboys and Buccaneers meet 18 weeks after they opened their seasons in prime time - both carrying a public perception that has seen some "shrinkage" since then.

In Episode 20 of Season 5 of "Seinfeld," the gang heads out to New Yorker vacation hot-spot The Hamptons because, for the second time in series history, they "have to see the baby." There will be very few youngsters on the field in Tampa, as both are veteran-laden teams that suit the honor of getting invited to a prestige broadcast location - Monday Night Football. The expectation is that it won't be a day at the beach for either team.

'The Hamptons'

George's new girlfriend, Jane, shows the gang more than he would have liked, just as the Cowboys give Ezekiel Elliott the ball more than many Dallas backers would like to see.

Opposing tailbacks used to run into the Buccaneers' front-seven like a frightened turtle, but Tampa's run defense has been merely average this season. Part of that is due to how infrequently both veteran defensive lineman Vita Vea and Akiem Hicks have been on-field together.

Here's the list of games where Vea and Hicks both played more than 50% of the snaps, along with their opponents' yards per carry and the total points the Bucs allowed:

Only Nick Chubb and the Browns - at home - were able to have respectable success running against the Buccaneers when Vea and Hicks were both available.

Of course, no one will tell Jerry Jones that Elliott's carries are inefficient as it's a "must-lie situation" around AT&T Stadium. Much has been made of the Cowboys' 1-3 record when they've played on grass, away from the comfy confines of a fast track, but even with a nice game in Philadelphia - at a time when the Eagles were struggling on run defense - Elliott's averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on grass and 3.8 YPC overall this season. Repeated hand-offs to Elliott will get the Cowboys in more trouble than Kramer after he poaches lobsters.

Pick: Ezekiel Elliott under 47.5 rush yards

A TD that's definitely going to happen

We'll be ordering lobster in everything if the round-robin touchdown parlay hits, so if that's still alive come Monday night, we don't need to do anything here.

However, even on its own, I'm crazier about Chris Godwin to score a touchdown than George's mom is about Hampton tomatoes. Coming off of ACL surgery, it took a while for Godwin to get back up to speed, and he certainly wasn't 100% in Week 1 at Dallas. By Week 4, though, Godwin was starting a run of 8+ targets per game that ended in Week 18 only because he played just 26 snaps (and still caught six passes).

The price is this long because Godwin has just three touchdowns this season, but he's by far the most reliable target for Tom Brady, and after missing the playoffs last season, Godwin's got a level of vengeance matched only by George after Jerry's girlfriend walked in on him after he "was in the pool!"

Pick: Chris Godwin anytime touchdown (+175)

A TD that probably won't happen ... but maybe it does

Elliott has 12 touchdowns, and Tony Pollard has nine more. It's safe to say the Cowboys have a tendency to give him the ball near the goal line. However, in keeping with the capability of the Bucs' run defense detailed above, maybe those Cowboys carries are better served to "trying to create a buzz" in a scouting report.

Dak Prescott only has one rushing touchdown, so it would be "breathtaking" if the Cowboys broke tendency and had Prescott pull the ball on a read-option and let Elliott crash into the Bucs' defensive wall, allowing Prescott to skip into the end zone untouched. If that's the case, at 6-1 odds, you can find us basking in the sunshine to the 'Beach Boys'' "Wouldn't it be nice?"

Pick: Dak Prescott anytime touchdown (+600)

How to bet: The first two bets should be single-unit wagers to win a unit on minus prices and more than a unit on a plus-money bet. The last wager should be smaller, trying to win back your standard unit size.

Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.