Buccaneers vs. Eagles Betting Guide: Line, Action Report, Props and Best Bets
NFL Week 6 kicks off in Philadelphia as Jalen Hurts and the Eagles host Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, and it’s certainly no surprise which team sportsbooks and oddsmakers are cheering for on Thursday Night Football.
Thursday Night Football Spread: Bucs -7/-6.5
The Bucs opened as 6.5-point favorites, and despite a slew of betting tickets opting to lay the points, not all sportsbooks stretched the spread to Bucs -7.
In fact, at PointsBet, where the spread originally opened -7 (-110), oddsmakers ironically shortened it to -6.5 (-105) as of 4 pm ET Thursday. It’s clear PointsBet has taken some sharp money on the Bucs, considering 81% of the bet count is on the away team but only 67% of the handle.
Eagles bettors however can spread their wings and fly at BetMGM or Caesars, where the current line is Philly +7.
Total Settles at 52.5 Points
While there was some volatility early, the total has settled at 52.5 points across the online sports betting industry. With bets more evenly distributed on the Over/Under (54-46%, per ScoresAndOdds) than against the spread, we can likely expect this number to stay steady between now and the coin toss.
As for a pick? Well, you’ll have to read Nick Galaida’s Bucs vs. Eagles prediction to get that. Here’s a sneak peek:
“Hurts ranks 28th in the league with a 37.1 QBR in 2021. He has only seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Twice, he has thrown for less than 200 yards in a game. The Eagles offensive line has been surprisingly solid early this fall, but Thursday’s matchup against the Buccaneers will be unquestionably their toughest task to date. Per Pro Football Focus, Jordan Mailata has allowed only four pressures on 120 snaps at right tackle. Jason Kelce once again looks like one of the best centers in football. Andre Dillard has taken a noticeable leap forward in his sophomore season at left tackle. Tonight, the main issue is going to be mitigating the negative impact of Landon Dickerson and Nate Herbig against a ferocious opposing pass rush.”
Bucs vs. Eagles Player Props
Okay, we won’t totally leave you hanging when it comes to picks. Dan Gaspar, AKA Mr. Tuttle in the DFS streets, and Nick Galaida have picked out their favorite prop bets.
Kenneth Gainwell Over 23.5 Receiving Yards at FanDuel
Thursday night’s matchup sets up well for Philadelphia’s pass-catching back Kenny Gainwell. Tampa Bay has been stout against the run allowing a league-best 2.9 YPC which should limit Miles Sanders’ involvement in this game as a runner and provide more opportunity for Gainwell. While they have stymied opposing ground games running backs have still been productive against the Bucs as Tampa Bay has allowed the most receptions to RBs in the league. We saw Gainwell beat this number in Weeks 3-4 with the Eagles playing from behind and it’s likely we see a similar game script on Thursday night with them being touchdown underdogs. – Dan Gaspar, RotoGrinders DFS analyst
Zach Ertz o41.5 receiving yards
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the best teams in the NFL, but they are not without their weaknesses. Against tight ends this fall, they have been extremely vulnerable in the middle of the field. Here are the final stat lines for opposing tight ends against the Buccaneers through five weeks.
Week 1: Dalton Schultz – 6 receptions, 45 yards
Week 2: Kyle Pitts – 5 receptions, 73 yards
Week 3: Tyler Higbee – 5 catches, 40 yards
Week 4: Hunter Henry & Jonnu Smith – 7 receptions, 46 yards
Week 5: Mike Gesicki – 4 receptions, 43 yards
Tampa Bay is very weak at linebacker, and they are even weaker tonight without veteran Lavonte David suiting up. Cornerback James Dean is likely to make life tough for the Philadelphia Eagles top wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, which should further expand the role of Ertz in this one. Bettors must also remember that Tampa Bay has a historically good run defense. Expect a lot of passing attempts from Jalen Hurts tonight, and for at least a handful of looks to go Ertz’s way. He should have a great chance to hit his receiving prop in this contest. – Nick Galaida, NFL betting analyst
Sports betting analyst Sloan Piva also broke down his favorite Bucs vs. Eagles same game parlay earlier today. Here’s one of its six legs.
DeVonta Smith Over 74.5 Receiving Yards
We always knew the Eagles would benefit from reuniting Alabama buddies Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith — we just didn’t how soon the duo would click at the NFL level. Well, it didn’t take long. Smith has back-to-back games with seven catches, and he’s caught 77.7 percent of Hurts’ passes during that span. Most importantly, he racked up 199 receiving yards over those two weeks, and we all know Tampa is most susceptible in the secondary. Like, sign former Brady enemy Richard Sherman amid off-the-field criminal charges level of susceptibility. The Bucs rank dead-last in the NFL in passing yards surrendered, and aging Sherman just isn’t the lockdown he used to be. I think high-flying DeVonta Smith is a lock to log at least 75 yards during this primetime game. – Sloan Piva, sports betting analyst
Finally, what does the algorithm say? And by algorithm, I mean one of my favorite tools available for ScoresAndOdds Premium members.
Chris Godwin Over 70.5 Receiving Yards
The machine projects Bucs receiver Chris Godwin to have 74.5 receiving yards while his receiving prop is currently 70.5 yards. The Eagles’ defense hasn’t been great this season and, as we’ve already discussed, this game has a pretty high total, which means we should see plenty of passing from both sides. I’ll listen to the machine.
Remember, SAO Premium members not only get projections for each player but also gain access to a tool that shows which sportsbook has the best line for every player prop, making shopping for props easier than ever.
Good luck at the sportsbook tonight, Grinders!
Imag Credit: Imagn