Both the Buccaneers and the Dolphins were expected to contend for playoff spots in their respective conferences this season. Instead, both teams have at times looked like they quit on the season.
The Dolphins are coming off a 45-21 loss on Monday Night Football, making it two losses of 20+ points in their last three. Can they get off the mat against the similarly-hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this spot?
Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 14 Nov 10:18am | TB | -3 -110 | O +40 -110 |
Closing 19 Nov 5:58pm | TB | -1 -115 | O +43.5 -110 |
The Bucs have fared well in this series, winning four of the last five meetings while covering all five of them. They are 16-22 ATS in their last 48 as a road dog of three or less. As for the Dolphins, they are 26-25 in their last 51 as a home favorite of three or less.
Tampa Bay limps into this Week 11 matchup at 3-6 straight up and with a 2-6-1 record against the spread this season. Meanwhile, Miami is 4-5 straight up and 3-4-2 against the spread.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Things went from bad to worse for Tampa Bay when quarterback Jameis Winston went down with a shoulder injury…or did they? The Buccaneers have turned to Ryan Fitzpatrick at the position and he did enough to get them to a win last week. Fitzpatrick completed just 17-of-34 attempts for 187 yards with a touchdown and an interception in last week’s win over the New York Jets. He did that without Mike Evans, though, as he was suspended for the week. He’ll be back for this contest.
The Tampa Bay defense stepped up and kept the Jets offense from scoring more than 10 points but they will face a more difficult test on the road this week. It will be very interesting to see how the Buccaneers respond over the second half of the season. They are 0-4 on the road this season but Miami looks like a team that has quit. If the Bucs can take it to the Dolphins early, Miami might relent fairly easily as they have done recently.
Miami Dolphins
A banged up offensive line hasn’t helped the Dolphins scoring issues this season. Miami has plenty of weapons on offense but a lack of consistent protection has hurt their ability to move the ball both through the air and on the ground. Quarterback Jay Cutler has improved as the season has progressed and has thrown for nine touchdowns and just three interceptions over his last four games. However, his interception right before the half in Carolina last week was crippling. He hasn’t made many mistakes but they seem to really hurt the team when they happen.
While the Dolphins looked listless in the second half of Monday Night Football, the reality is that they are only one game out of a playoff spot. And their run defense had been stout prior to getting ripped for 294 rushing yards by Carolina. If they can cut off the Bucs ground game and force the game on Fitzpatrick’s shoulder, they should be able to get back in the win column.
Weather

temp | 81 |
condition | sunny |
wind | West 9mph |
Injuries
Ryan Russell (DE)
Devante Bond (LB)
Chris Godwin (WR)
Cameron Brate (TE)
Ryan Smith (DB)
Robert Ayers (DE)
Justin Evans (S)
Adarius Glanton (LB)
O.J. Howard (TE)
DeSean Jackson (WR)
Jay Ajayi (RB)
MarQueis Gray (TE)
Charles Harris (DE)
Neville Hewitt (LB)
T.J. McDonald (S)
Laremy Tunsil (T)
Cameron Wake (DE)
DeVante Parker (WR)
Alterraun Verner (CB)
Leonte Carroo (WR)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ryan Russell (DE) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Russell has a shoulder injury and his availability for Sunday's game against the Saints is unclear. |
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Devante Bond (LB) | Out Sun | Ankle - 28 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Bond has an ankle injury and will not be available Sunday against the Saints. |
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Chris Godwin (WR) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 28 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Godwin has an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Saints. |
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Cameron Brate (TE) | Ques Sun | Back - 27 / 12 / 17 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Brate has a knee injury and it is unknown if he will play in Sunday's game against the Saints. |
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Ryan Smith (DB) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 20 / 12 / 17 | 2-0 | 0-2 | + - |
Smith missed the last game with an ankle injury but is expected to suit up Sunday against the Saints. |
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Robert Ayers (DE) | Out Sun | Stinger - 18 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
Ayers missed the last game due to a stinger and will not be available Sunday against the Saints. |
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Justin Evans (S) | I-R | Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
Evans suffered an ankle injury and is on injured reserve. |
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Adarius Glanton (LB) | I-R | Leg - 18 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
Glanton has been placed on the injured reserve list with a broken leg. |
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O.J. Howard (TE) | I-R | Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
Howard suffered a right ankle injury and is on injured reserve. |
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DeSean Jackson (WR) | Out Sun | Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
Jackson suffered a left ankle injury and did not play in the last game. He will not return Sunday against the Saints. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jay Ajayi (RB) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 24 / 01 / 18 | 0-0 | 0-0 | + - |
Ajayi was confined to a limited role in practice due to an ankle injury but is expected to suit up against the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. |
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MarQueis Gray (TE) | Ques Sun | Hip - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Gray injured his hip, leaving his availability against the Bills on Sunday in question. |
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Charles Harris (DE) | Ques Sun | Thigh - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Harris has a thigh injury and it is unknown if he will take part in Sunday's contest against the Bills. |
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Neville Hewitt (LB) | Ques Sun | Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Hewitt is dealing with an injured hamstring and his status is up in the air Sunday against the Bills. |
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T.J. McDonald (S) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
McDonald has a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will play Sunday against the Bills. |
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Laremy Tunsil (T) | Out Sun | Ankle - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Tunsil will not be active Sunday against the Bills due to an ankle injury. |
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Cameron Wake (DE) | Ques Sun | Illness - 30 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Wake is dealing with an illness and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game against the Bills. |
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DeVante Parker (WR) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 29 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Parker will likely line up against the Bills on Sunday despite a lingering ankle ailment. |
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Alterraun Verner (CB) | Out Sun | Hamstring - 28 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Verner left the last game with a hamstring injury and will be inactive Sunday against the Bills. |
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Leonte Carroo (WR) | I-R | Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 17 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Carroo has been placed on injured reserve after requiring an emergency medical procedure for an unknown ailment. |
Buccaneers vs Dolphins Prediction
-
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
9 -
MIAMI DOLPHINS
17
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 14 Nov 10:18am TB -3 -110 O +40 -110 Closing 19 Nov 5:58pm TB -1 -115 O +43.5 -110 -
Weather
temp 81 condition sunny wind West 9mph -
Injuries
Ryan Russell (DE)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 17Devante Bond (LB)
Out Sun Ankle - 28 / 12 / 17Chris Godwin (WR)
Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 12 / 17Cameron Brate (TE)
Ques Sun Back - 27 / 12 / 17Ryan Smith (DB)
Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 12 / 17Robert Ayers (DE)
Out Sun Stinger - 18 / 12 / 17Justin Evans (S)
I-R Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17Adarius Glanton (LB)
I-R Leg - 18 / 12 / 17O.J. Howard (TE)
I-R Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17DeSean Jackson (WR)
Out Sun Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17Jay Ajayi (RB)
Prob Sun Ankle - 24 / 01 / 18MarQueis Gray (TE)
Ques Sun Hip - 30 / 12 / 17Charles Harris (DE)
Ques Sun Thigh - 30 / 12 / 17Neville Hewitt (LB)
Ques Sun Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 17T.J. McDonald (S)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 17Laremy Tunsil (T)
Out Sun Ankle - 30 / 12 / 17Cameron Wake (DE)
Ques Sun Illness - 30 / 12 / 17DeVante Parker (WR)
Prob Sun Ankle - 29 / 12 / 17Alterraun Verner (CB)
Out Sun Hamstring - 28 / 12 / 17Leonte Carroo (WR)
I-R Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Ryan Russell (DE) Ques Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Russell has a shoulder injury and his availability for Sunday's game against the Saints is unclear.
Devante Bond (LB) Out Sun Ankle - 28 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Bond has an ankle injury and will not be available Sunday against the Saints.
Chris Godwin (WR) Ques Sun Ankle - 28 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Godwin has an ankle injury and it is unclear if he will play Sunday against the Saints.
Cameron Brate (TE) Ques Sun Back - 27 / 12 / 17 1-0 0-1 + - Brate has a knee injury and it is unknown if he will play in Sunday's game against the Saints.
Ryan Smith (DB) Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 12 / 17 2-0 0-2 + - Smith missed the last game with an ankle injury but is expected to suit up Sunday against the Saints.
Robert Ayers (DE) Out Sun Stinger - 18 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Ayers missed the last game due to a stinger and will not be available Sunday against the Saints.
Justin Evans (S) I-R Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Evans suffered an ankle injury and is on injured reserve.
Adarius Glanton (LB) I-R Leg - 18 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Glanton has been placed on the injured reserve list with a broken leg.
O.J. Howard (TE) I-R Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Howard suffered a right ankle injury and is on injured reserve.
DeSean Jackson (WR) Out Sun Ankle - 18 / 12 / 17 2-1 0-3 + - Jackson suffered a left ankle injury and did not play in the last game. He will not return Sunday against the Saints.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jay Ajayi (RB) Prob Sun Ankle - 24 / 01 / 18 0-0 0-0 + - Ajayi was confined to a limited role in practice due to an ankle injury but is expected to suit up against the Patriots in Super Bowl 52.
MarQueis Gray (TE) Ques Sun Hip - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Gray injured his hip, leaving his availability against the Bills on Sunday in question.
Charles Harris (DE) Ques Sun Thigh - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Harris has a thigh injury and it is unknown if he will take part in Sunday's contest against the Bills.
Neville Hewitt (LB) Ques Sun Hamstring - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Hewitt is dealing with an injured hamstring and his status is up in the air Sunday against the Bills.
T.J. McDonald (S) Ques Sun Shoulder - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - McDonald has a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will play Sunday against the Bills.
Laremy Tunsil (T) Out Sun Ankle - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Tunsil will not be active Sunday against the Bills due to an ankle injury.
Cameron Wake (DE) Ques Sun Illness - 30 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Wake is dealing with an illness and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game against the Bills.
DeVante Parker (WR) Prob Sun Ankle - 29 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Parker will likely line up against the Bills on Sunday despite a lingering ankle ailment.
Alterraun Verner (CB) Out Sun Hamstring - 28 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Verner left the last game with a hamstring injury and will be inactive Sunday against the Bills.
Leonte Carroo (WR) I-R Undisclosed - 27 / 12 / 17 0-1 0-1 + - Carroo has been placed on injured reserve after requiring an emergency medical procedure for an unknown ailment.