Dolphins Buccaneers Betting – Bucs Bounce Back Against Florida Rivals

Sports betting players will tell you that the preseason doesn’t mean a lot, but no team likes to be manhandled, especially at home, and that should be the motivate that drives Tampa Bay when they take the field against Miami in a meeting of clubs from the Sunshine State.

What: NFL Betting
When: Saturday, August 27th, 7:30 PM ET
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL
Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -4

Why Bet On Miami Dolphins

The biggest worry for the Dolphins heading into this crucial third week of the preseason comes at quarterback, where Chad Henne has to have the inside track on the starter’s role….doesn’t he? Henne was 15-of-24 for 194 yards as he powered the Dolphins to a 20-10 win over Carolina, but he still doesn’t have the confidence of the fans and we’re not even sure he has the players’ vote now. He is fortunate that the Dolphins didn’t bring in any competition for him as Matt Moore isn’t good enough to really push Henne, although Moore was 6-of-10 for 73 yards against his former team. Brandon Marshall looked good with five receptions for 46 yards, while Reggie Bush had 10 touches for 86 yards, and Henne will need those two to remain healthy all season as they’re his most dangerous weapons.

Defensively, the Dolphins played better against Carolina than they did against Atlanta in their opener, but the Panthers have quarterbacks who haven’t played more than a year. Miami’s defense will be tested against a Tampa Bay offense that is efficient and able to beat you in different ways. The offensive line has also been hurt by the absence of all-Pro tackle Jake Long, who has injuries to his shoulder and knee, so look for that area to be a focus on Saturday night.

Why Bet On Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay first-string had no answers for New England in a 31-14 loss at home, and after a big win over Kansas City in their first week, maybe complacency set in for some of the players and head coach Raheem Morris will be happy that his starters got slapped around. Josh Johnson was 6-of-17 for 105 yards and a pick, while they had just 64 yards on the ground (albeit on 15 carries), but it wasn’t just on offense as the Bucs were down 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Tampa Bay was undisciplined with 12 penalties, they couldn’t stop or score on the Patriots and it was a poor performance all around by the Bucs, although Elbert Mack’s 69-yard interception return for a touchdown was a bright spot. Still, it was probably a rough week in practice for the young Bucs.

Getting beat down by the Patriots may have been the best thing for Tampa Bay, who many feel are a NFL betting darkhorse to make the playoffs and maybe win the AFC South. The Bucs were a good story last season, but this year teams will be prepared for them and they have to learn how to deal with the top teams, especially at home. This was an excellent lesson for Tampa Bay, who are still very young, and they should learn and grow from it.

How It Will Play Out

Tampa Bay will be favored by 4.5 points at home in this important NFL betting affair as wagering players know that the starters will get the most time they’ll get all preseason, so it’s a little easier to get a feel of how they’ll play in the regular season. Speaking of the regular season, the Bucs are 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS against their Florida rivals, with four games going over the posted total, and it should be an intense game as a lot of players have something to prove, whether they are a starter or just looking to wrap up a roster spot.

The Bucs will be fired up after getting destroyed by New England last week, and Morris has already started by calling out some of his young guns such as receiver Mike Williams (for an inability to get open). That’s not good news for the Dolphins, as Henne has to show he can be consistent, and no one really knows that yet. Bet on Tampa Bay in your online betting picks.