We’re creeping closer to the NFL postseason, which means games are mattering more and more for those teams fighting to reach the playoffs. That situation applies to both the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who meet at Raymond James Stadium. The Bengals are looking to win the AFC North ahead of the Ravens, while the Bucs are attempting to do the same in the paltry NFC South. Our expert has their best picks, predictions and best bets for this Bengals vs Buccaneers matchup.
Be sure not to miss any of our NFL picks for Week 15 — we went 11-2 on sides in Week 14!
NFL Cincinnati Bengals vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers expert predictions
Everyone keeps waiting for the Buccaneers to turn a corner, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening. Tampa and Tom Brady just got humiliated 35-7 by a 49ers team that was starting a 7th-round rookie at quarterback. As for the Bengals, they’re beginning to look more and more like the team that made it to the Super Bowl last season. Although the Bucs have home-field advantage in this one, they have their work cut out for them here trying to keep this Cincinnati team at bay.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers spread, odds & betting lines
Odds courtesy of BetMGM at time of publishing.
Point Spread: Bengals -3.5, Buccaneers +3.5
Total Points Over/Under: 44 points
Money Line Odds: Bengals -188, Buccaneers +155
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Cincinnati Bengals vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers expert picks
We’ve got 2 standout NFL picks for the clash between the Bengals and Buccaneers.
Bengals vs Buccaneers point spread pick: Bengals -3.5 (-110)
We’ve got two teams headed in very different directions here as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy started off the year 0-2 and there was a lot of talk about a potential Super Bowl hangover. They’ve since gone 9-2 in their last 11. They just beat Cleveland by 13 last Sunday, and that was right after beating the Chiefs in an AFC Championship Game rematch. The Bengals were without Ja’Marr Chase for four games but weathered the storm, and Joe Burrow has played at an MVP level. Tampa on the other hand is in free-fall, and they just got smoked 35-7 by the 49ers in Brock Purdy’s first career start. Tom Brady and the offense have been anemic, as they’ve scored more than 22 points just once all season and that was all the way back on October 2nd in a loss.
Now the Bucs are dealing with a couple of key injuries on defense, as it looks like both Vita Vea and Jamel Dean will miss this one. The loss of Vea is a huge blow to their run defense and great news for Joe Mixon. Without those two guys, I don’t see how they’ll be able to slow down the Bengals’ offense enough to keep up. Just last week they let Purdy average 8.8 yards per attempt on them. The Bucs are 4-7 in their last 11, and all four of those wins were close games against struggling teams. They haven’t won a game by more than six points since September 18th. Lay the points with the Bengals here.
Be sure to check out our full Bengals vs Buccaneers predictions
Bengals vs Buccaneers Over/Under totals pick: Under 44 (-110)
I’m also playing the under here. The loss of Vea is bad for the Bucs overall, but if it means the Bengals are running the ball a lot more it might not be bad for this under. Cincy is a bit banged up at receiver as well with both Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins nursing injuries. Tom Brady hasn’t been on the same page with Mike Evans all season, and the injury to stud left tackle Tristan Wirfs has made already bad protection problems worse. Brady doesn’t trust his O-line right now, and understandably so. They can’t take many shots down the field because they can’t block it up, and when they do Brady just hasn’t been hitting them.
And it doesn’t matter whether it’s Leonard Fournette or Rachaad White, Byron Leftwich is going to keep calling inefficient run plays on first and second down. There have been 42 total points or fewer scored in five straight Bucs games, and I wouldn’t expect too many fireworks here.
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