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Charlie Grant
49ers vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Predictions, Week 1 Odds
The San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have spent the last half decade at the bottom, or close to it, of their divisions. The two clubs have just one winning season between them over the last five years. But there are reasons for NFL bettors to be optimistic about both teams in 2019.
San Fran QB Jimmy Garoppolo starts his comeback season in Bruce Arians’ first game as head coach of the Buccaneers.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Sports Interaction opened the spread for this game with the Bucs as 1-point home favourites. The line moved to a pick ‘em with both sides priced with 10 cent juice (-110). This means you bet $110 to win $100.
The total is on the move as well. The over/under line opened at 49, but jumped up to 50.5. The betting trends at Sports Interaction run contrary to the movement. About 56 percent of the over/under bets are backing the under.
The Niners are projected to have the more successful campaign. Online sportsbooks list the club’s season win total at 8.5 – two full wins higher than Tampa Bay’s (6.5). San Francisco is still the third favourite to win the NFC West (+550) behind the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
The Bucs are projected to finish last in the NFC South and are paying +440 on the Yes for the “will they make the playoffs” future bet.
San Francisco 49ers
Garoppolo remains the story in the City by the Bay. The former understudy to Tom Brady in New England turned heads in his first few starts as the main man for the Niners at the tail end of the 2017 season. But the results were mixed in 2018 before a knee injury in Week 3 derailed his sophomore season in San Francisco.
Niner fans are just as – if not more excited – about the other side of the ball. The club drastically improved its pass rush by acquiring Dee Ford and selecting Joey Bosa with the second overall pick in 2019 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are 12 years removed from their last playoff appearance. Desperate times call for desperate actions. General manager Jason Licht coaxed Bruce Arians out of retirement to coach up the underperforming club.
Arians reunites with Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay. Bowles was the defensive coordinator under Arians for Arizona’s best seasons this decade before leaving for the head coaching post in New York with the Jets.
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