Broncos vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
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Edgar Chaput
Sean Peyton’s plan with rookie QB Bo Nix has gotten off to a slow start, with Denver at 0-2 following a dispiriting 13-6 loss to the Steelers in Week 2. The vibes could not be more different in Tampa Bay, where the Buccaneers are reaping the rewards of Baker Mayfield’s resurgence. They downed the Detroit Lions 20-16 in Week 2 for a 2-0 record.
Our NFL odds have the host Bucs as relatively comfortable -7 favourites. The over-under is established at 39.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Denver-Tampa Bay meetings are rather infrequent affairs. The franchises have only drawn swords four times since 2008. For what it’s worth, the Broncos hold a 3-1 lead over that decade and a half of football. Incidentally, the lone Bucs victory was in 2020, the same season recently retired Tom Brady led Tampa on a Super Bowl run.
Despite beginning the 2024 campaign with a 0-2 straight-up tally, the Broncos have at least covered one spread. That was in Week 1. Alas, their Week 2 match didn’t go as well, dropping them to 1-1 ATS. It’s interesting to note that the over-under is 39.5. Keep in mind that in Week 2 the under connected despite that the figure was as low as 36.5.
The Bucs have begun their season brightly. The good vibes of 2023 have carried over, with the club sitting at 2-0 both in the NFC South standings and ATS. Tampa Bay was a massive +7.5 underdog at Detroit last week yet were not deterred. The over is 1-1 in games involving the Buccaneers thus far.
Denver Broncos
Nobody said it was going to be easy. None of the 2024 rookie QBs are having a great go at it through two weeks, including Denver’s Bo Nix. Exhibit A: the 13-6 defeat at home to the Steelers last Sunday.
To be fair, fans saw Pittsburgh demolish the Falcons’ attack the week prior, and that was against veteran Kirk Cousins, so witnessing Nix struggle shouldn’t have been a surprise. Even so, for the Broncos to score their first points of the game at 10:42 of the final period via a field goal must have been disheartening. There wasn’t much wrong with the Broncos defence, though. LB Alex Singleton was busy with 11 tackles, including one QB hit. DE Zach Allen and LB Jonah Ellis both recorded sacks. There is no dishonour in only giving up 13 points.
The problem is that the offence is struggling mightily. Nix went a forgettable 20-for-35 for 246 yards, hampered by a couple of brutal picks. For the second week in a row, Nix also led the team in rushing (25 yards), which doesn’t bode well for the running back committee.
LB Baron Browning and DE John Franklin-Myers are currently listed as questionable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay’s first road game of the new season was at the scene of their playoff elimination back in January versus the Detroit Lions. The Bucs came, saw, and conquered, albeit in a unique fashion.
That the Buccaneers had fewer first downs (14 to the Lions’ 26), fewer yards (216 to 463), and lost the time of possession game-within-a-game (26:07 to 33:53) was inconsequential. Such stats don’t matter when the opposition fails to capitalize on a pair of fourth-down attempts and completely bungles a field goal attempt as time expires before halftime after gobbling up yards down the field.
Baker Mayfield came to the rescue, less so with arm (185 yards) than with his legs (34 yards and a TD). Chris Godwin caught for 117 yards and a major. Fun fact: the Bucs didn’t record a single sack whilst Detroit’s Aiden Hutchinson had 4.5 yet still won.
RB Rachaad White and DT Vita Vea are currently listed as questionable.
DEN
TB