NFL Early Game Betting – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions (0-10 SU, 4-6 ATS) are still searching for that elusive first win of the season. On Sunday they’ll try again, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3 SU, 6-4 ATS) come to town with an NFC South title in their sights. The two teams will kick it off at 1 PM ET at Ford Field (artificial turf) in Detroit.
BetUS NFL betting odds: TAMPA BAY -8.5, Total 41
NOTABLE STAT: Detroit has rushed for 65.8 ypg at home (last in NFL)
KEY NFL FOOTBALL BETTING TREND: Lions have covered five of last 18 games
In the BetUS NFL football betting odds, the Bucs are listed as an 8.5-point road favorite, with a posted total of 41 points.
Here are some NFL football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* TB has covered six of its last nine games
* TB has won four of its last five games SU
* TB has played five of its last six games UNDER the total
* TB has covered two of its last seven road games
* TB has lost 16 of its last 22 road games SU
* TB has played seven of its last nine road games OVER the total
* DET has covered four of its last six games
* DET has covered five of its last 18 games
* DET has played four of its last five games OVER the total
* DET has lost seven of its last eight home games SU
Also…
* DET has covered the last six meetings
* TB has won four of the last five meetings SU
* Four of the last five meetings have gone UNDER the total
* DET has covered five of the last six meetings as the home team
* Four of the last six meetings in Detroit have gone UNDER the total
Daunte Culpepper has not shined in his role as the new quarterback for the Lions (56%, 1 TD, 3 INT’s). And he’s still not all that familiar with the playbook. So Monte Kiffin, the defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, may have plenty to keep him off balance.
Rod Marinelli says he hasn’t given up. But have his players? The Lions have lost all four of their home games by margins of eight points or more. Well, actually three of those games were lost by margins of 23, 27 and 24 points. Last week TWO Carolina running backs topped the 100-yard mark. Marinelli can evoke all the emotions he wants to, but it would be surprising if he were to find himself with a job at season’s end.
Detroit has only two interceptions on the year, and that plays very well into the hands of Jeff Garcia, who has been sacked only six times on the year. The defensive numbers on the part of the Lions are not stellar – they have given up eight yards a pass play and 5.1 yards per rushing attempt. Maybe Joey Galloway, who’s caught just four passes in his last three games, gets himself going here. Cadillac Williams may be forced to make more of a contribution, as Ernest Graham is out of action.
Detroit won last year’s meeting 23-16, as the Bucs had a couple of inopportune fumbles. This time revenge works, although it can’t be a major recommendation. Lay it with the Bucs, the 8.5-point favorite in the BetUS NFL pro football sports betting odds.
