Patriots Buccaneers Betting – Bucs “D” Continues To Impress
Online betting players finally got to scratch their NFL wagering itch during the first week of preseason, and the games will get more intense as the regular season approaches. One of the best performances of the week came from Tampa Bay, whose defense dominated their first game. Look for them to flex their muscles against New England, who should give their starters their first action of the season.
- What: NFL Betting
- When: Thursday, August 18th, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL
- Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why Bet On New England Patriots
The Patriots didn’t need their starters in a 47-12 romp over Jacksonville, and even though rookie quarterback Ryan Mallett was playing against third and fourth-string defenders, he still impressed to go 12-of-19 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Those were similar numbers to Brian Hoyer, and even though Hoyer has the inside track on being Tom Brady’s backup because of his experience, Mallett didn’t hurt his chances in this game. Rookie back Stevan Ridley ran for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns, which is encouraging as the Patriots desperately need to improve their running game. The Danny Woodhead story from 2010 was good, but he’s no every-down back.
Look for the starters to make a brief cameo in this game, likely not playing more than the first quarter, so it should be the first time that NFL betting players see Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth in New England colors in a game situation. It would be very interesting to see what coach Bill Belichick has in store for the defensive-line duo of Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork. This duo gives the Patriots a lot of flexibility in their schemes.
Why Bet On Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers showed some NFL betting players that they could be a problem in the NFC South, and even though it’s only the first game of preseason, Tampa Bay looked very good in a 25-0 rout of Kansas City on the road. The Bucs got a solid outing from starter Josh Freeman, who was 7-of-12 for 108 yards and a score, and he added a rushing touchdown as well. But the most impressive performance of the game came from the defense, which racked up seven sacks and held the Chiefs to 137 total yards, along with a pair of turnovers. The Buccaneers will need that sort of pass rush all season long, playing in a division with Atlanta and New Orleans.
There really isn’t much to pick out in terms of negatives from Tampa Bay after one game, but they looked like a team who was prepared, while it was reported that the Chiefs hadn’t practiced in pads prior to this game, looking to avoid injuries. The Bucs were intense on both sides of the ball, and that will leave coach Raheem Morris with a lot of good thoughts. Granted, he’ll likely find something because that what coaches do, but Morris has to be pleased with the way his young Bucs focused for this game.
How It Will Play Out
The Bucs should be the NFL betting favorites in this game at home, and they are 2-3 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five regular-season meetings against the Patriots, with four games going under the posted total. It all really depends on how long the New England starters play in this game, but don’t expect much as they are still trying to figure out their depth issues.
Tampa Bay’s defense shut down a good Kansas City unit, and they’re going to get up for this meeting with the Patriots. They probably won’t get another seven sacks, especially when Brady is in the game, but they’re going to use their pass rush to disrupt a New England offense which is predicated on timing, and that is going to be a big test for Mallett, especially. The Patriot defenders will also find out that the Tampa Bay offense is much better than the Jacksonville unit they ran over in their preseason opener. Bet on Tampa Bay in your sports betting book.
Patriots Buccaneers Betting Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
