Buccaneers vs. Lions Point Spread: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction
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Nik Kowalski
Another week and another playoff rematch for the Detroit Lions as they welcome in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday. Detroit came out on top over Tampa Bay in last year’s NFC Divisional Round by a score of 31-23, one of the more underrated playoff games in recent memory. Baker Mayfield tossed for 349 yards and three touchdowns in a losing effort, coming up just short in what’s suddenly become a hostile environment in Detroit.
It’s an environment brought back alive via winning; the Lions are as much of a contender as thought to be this season, ending their Sunday Night Football season opener with a remarkable 70-yard touchdown drive in their 26-20 overtime victory versus L.A. — a rematch of last year’s Wild-Card game. Tampa Bay also looks like no slouch again as shown in last week’s 37-20 dub.
Kickoff at Ford Field gets started at 1 p.m. EDT and it’s Detroit over a touchdown favourite on home field, and the total up to 51.5 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Bucs and Lions entered the 2024 NFL season as two of the hottest teams against the spread and kept that trend up with covers in Week 1. Head-to-head, Detroit’s had the big advantage with a 12-4 record ATS over Tampa Bay in their last 16 meetings. The Lions are also 6-3 outright in their last nine games against the Buccaneers.
The Lions were a top-five offence in scoring (27.4 points per game) last season but ranked 25th in points allowed (23.8 points per game). It’s a primary factor as to why both of Detroit’s games this season have over/unders above 50, although last week they went under by a touchdown. Last year’s Bucs–Lions playoff bout saw just under 800 total yards of offence. So while the points aren’t a guarantee, trending toward overs on player props should be the safer play.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A four-touchdown, zero-interception performance has Baker Mayfield starting on the right foot in 2024. It’s a lot of the same cast for the Bucs too; Mike Evans brought in two touchdowns and 61 receiving yards, Chris Godwin led the team with eight receptions for 83 yards and a score, and even running back Rachaad White contributed through the air with six catches for 75 yards. The new pieces are looking dangerous in Tampa Bay too. That would be running back Bucky Irving and his 76 yards on 10 touches and 22-year-old receiver Jalen McMillan, who scored his first NFL touchdown on a 32-yard catch.
The Bucs are wounded on defence as starters Zyon McCollum (concussion), Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot), Logan Hall (foot), and K.J. Britt (illness) all landed on Wednesday’s injury report. If some or all are out, four touchdowns from Mayfield’s cast might not be enough to keep up.
Detroit Lions
After winning the coin toss in overtime last weekend, the Lions took eight plays to march 70 yards for a game-winning score. Detroit did so by enforcing their will on the ground, running the ball seven times to make up for 60 of those yards. Running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs both received double-digit carries in the win, showing off versatility on offence.
That’s because Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown combined for only 58 receiving yards, and Jared Goff completed 18 passes for 217 yards. Jameson Williams was the team’s top pass-catchers with five receptions for 121 yards and a score, which again can all be spun as a positive… because if Detroit’s too reliant on their superstars, defences can key in where needed. But when the ball is spread out like last weekend… look out, NFL!
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