Buccaneers vs. Dolphins Point Spread: NFL Week 17 Odds, Prediction
After sustaining a devastating blow to their playoff hopes in a loss at Carolina last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to rebound at Miami against the Dolphins on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
The Buccaneers have won four consecutive NFC South division titles and reached the postseason five straight years. A 23-20 loss at the Panthers last week, Tampa’s third straight defeat, puts both of those streaks in jeopardy.
Miami, with first-time starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 45-21. Four straight turnovers led to 28 points in the second half for Cincinnati, blowing open a 17-14 game. The Dolphins were hurt particularly without Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary, as Joe Burrow became the first quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards against Miami this season.
The Bucs are 5.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, with the total set at 46.0.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Buccaneers have gone 1-6 straight up and 0-7 against the spread in their last seven games. They have lost three straight and four of five on the road. Miami is 4-2 straight up in its last six games. Historically, the Bucs are 7-0 straight up and 6-1 ATS against Miami, dating back to 1997, in this seldom-played matchup. Tampa has played to the Under in four of five on the road, and Miami has done the same in its last five home contests.
Baker Mayfield is -115 to throw for fewer than 227.5 yards. He has thrown for 3,144 yards and 23 touchdowns this season, but has thrown for fewer than 227.5 yards in five of the last seven games he started and completed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs’ three-game losing streak is going to haunt them all offseason if they don’t reach the postseason. All three losses came by four points or less to division opponents – the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Panthers – they should have beaten.
The loss to Carolina was especially painful as Tampa Bay finally had its full complement of receivers on the field. But Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan combined for just 13 catches for 116 yards and one touchdown.
Mayfield is as tough as they come under centre, but his performances lately show that a ravaged body is slowly breaking down as the season comes to its conclusion.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are going to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season and seventh time in the past nine years. The team has now gone 25 years without winning a playoff game.
Coach Mike McDaniel could not overcome the loss of Tyreek Hill on offence. A four-game win streak was immediately followed by two straight losses that included the benching of QB Tua Tagovailoa and the promotion of Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick out of Texas last week.
Ewers went 20 for 30 for 260 yards, but two interceptions highlighted the Dolphins’ second second-half collapse in as many weeks. Fitzpatrick’s absence was felt last week, and he is questionable to play against the Buccaneers.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Buccaneers vs. Dolphins?
This is yet another matchup that should favour Tampa Bay, but something is just off with the Buccaneers. We should be talking about them resting their starters ahead of the playoffs, but the postseason is slipping through their fingers.
Miami can play spoiler this week, but look for Mayfield to dig deep and guide his team to a 24-21 victory.
h
TB
MIA