NFL
Sports Interaction Staff
September 5, 2017

Buccaneers vs. Dolphins Point Spread: NFL Picks and Prediction

UPDATE: The NFL has officially decided to postpone the Miami Dolphins-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in Miami for Week 1 due to Hurricane Irma. The game has been rescheduled for Week 11.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins will collide for a Week 1 battle at Hard Rock Stadium for a 1:00 pm Eastern kick-off. Let’s take a closer look at the game as well as Sports Interaction’s NFL regular season odds.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins

Point spread: Tampa Bay -2.5
Over/under: 41.5
Date: DELAYED
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.

Were the Dolphins a Total Mirage Last Season?

Last season, Miami somehow won their final seven games decided by a touchdown or less, and grabbed an AFC wild-card berth and then were promptly whipped by the Steelers on Wild Card weekend. “The Fins” were outgained by 798 yards in those seven games. Adam Gase’s team must have a better start than last season’s 1-4 record out of the gate to have any hope of getting back to the playoffs. Miami is really in tough late in the season because four of their final eight games are against 2016 playoff teams.

Buccaneers vs. Dolphins Odds and Betting Analysis

This will be the third meeting between the Buccaneers and Dolphins since 2001 with Tampa leading 2-1. Their most recent encounter was a 22-19 Tampa win on Monday night to wrap up Week 11 on November 11th, 2013. Miami is 3-1 ATS in their last 4 games as a home underdog, while Tampa Bay was 0-1 ATS as a road favourite last season. The visiting Buccaneers are set as 2.5-point favourites with the total currently sitting at 41.5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs added some nice new weapons for QB Jameis Winston during the offseason by adding free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson and investing an early draft pick in tight end O.J. Howard. The running game could be a problem for Tampa especially with incumbent running back Doug Martin suspended for the first three games of the season. Martin averaged a terrible 2.9 yards per carry in 2016, the lowest mark in the league of any back with at least 100 attempts. Jacquizz Rodgers will handle the bulk of the work in Martin’s absence and averaged 56.0 yards on the ground and 9.8 yards receiving in 10 games for the Bucs last season.

Miami Dolphins

Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill re-injured his left knee during training camp and was lost for the season which opened the door for 34-year-old Jay Cutler to come out of his semi-retirement. Cutler had his best season in Chicago with Adam Gase as his offensive coordinator. “Smokin’ Jay Cutler” had a career-high passer rating in 2015 when Gase was calling the plays for the Bears.