The final slate of NFL Preseason games is already in full swing, so we’re looking ahead to a matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers this evening. The starters won’t see much action, but this contest still brings some intrigue to the table as these two playoff teams prepare to make their final roster cuts ahead of the regular season.
Here’s a prediction and pick for Saturday’s Buccaneers vs. Bills matchup at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Buccaneers vs. Bills prediction, preview
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
These swashbucklers take the field at Raymond James Stadium with an unbeaten 2-0 record in the NFL Preseason thus far. The Buccaneers emerged with a 29-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 before narrowly defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 last week, so there are encouraging signs that their defense may have found some much-needed talent after giving up so many points last season.
Tampa Bay’s starters won’t suit up today, which means we probably won’t get another look at quarterback Baker Mayfield’s connection with rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, who’s flown up fantasy football draft boards after looking the part of an every-down contributor. Instead, we’ll get another glimpse at incumbent backup Kyle Trask and UDFA challenger Connor Bazelak. Trask’s performance thus far looks fine, if uninspiring with 148 scoreless yards while completing 15-of-26 attempts. However, Bazelak has shown some stellar efficiency by completing 20-of-27 passes for 154 yards. Veteran Teddy Bridgewater may also see action tonight. At wideout, Ryan Miller has stood out with eight catches for 77 yards, as has Garrett Greene with five for 47. Of course, there’s the question of halfbacks, too — hopefully Saturday brings another chance for Sean Tucker (17 CAR, 56 YDS, one TD) to prove he belongs in a legitimate depth role.
Buffalo Bills
Elsewhere, the Bills don’t bring much positive momentum into Tampa Bay. While records don’t really matter in this environment, it’s still worth noting Buffalo sits 0-2 thus far after losing 34-25 to the unbeaten New York Giants and suffering a 38-0 drubbing at the hands of Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears. It’s tough to glean much from that performance since the starters have barely touched the field, but such a blowout does have to feel discouraging regardless.
So far, Mitchell Trubisky has put forth a respectable effort under center in his second stint with Buffalo, completing 61.5% of his throws for 193 yards and a touchdown. He’s competing with another veteran in Mike White, whose completion percentage sits at just 50% with 166 yards and a pair of scores. That battle for backup duties behind Josh Allen should prove interesting, as should the backfield situation between Frank Gore Jr. (13 CAR, 72 YDS) and Ray Davis (seven CAR, 12 YDS) as they fight with Ty Johnson for the RB2 job. Gore has also proven his worth as a pass catcher with a team-high nine catches for 80 yards, while wideout Tyrell Shavers leads the Bills with 99 yards on four receptions over the exhibition slate. Whether Josh Palmer and KJ Hamler suit up should also be a trend to monitor this evening.
Buccaneers vs. Bills pick, best bet
This looks like a very close contest as indicated by DraftKings Sportsbook’s odds. The Bills are just a half-point favorite with -105 odds on the Moneyline, though the Buccaneers are right behind as a -115 ML favorite. The game total sits at 37.5 points.
Like we’ve mentioned in other articles, betting on NFL Preseason action can prove difficult at times since after all, we’re watching a different level of talent than on the typical regular-season game day. These teams are trying out their depth players to compete for roster spots, so there’s plenty on the line, but things do generally get sloppy during these exhibitions. Look at it like this — would the Bills get blown out 38-0 when the real Week 1 comes around?
However, there are still ways to find value for today’s betting cards. So far, the Buccaneers have run the ball very well with 130 and 170 rushing yards in their two NFL Preseason contests. Whether it’s the offensive line working well or simply the talent of the halfbacks, they’ve clearly had some success on that end. The Bills also allowed 171 rushing yards last week to the Bears, which makes me think they may be vulnerable on the ground. With that in mind, I’m taking a team special and betting on the Buccaneers to tally 125+ rushing yards at plus odds.
