Buccaneers vs. Lions Point Spread: NFL Week 7 Odds, Prediction
The first game of a true Monday Night Football doubleheader to conclude Week 7 could be an NFC playoff preview as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Detroit Lions in a matchup of 2024 division winners. The Lions are -5.5 on the NFL odds with a big total of 53.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
With Tampa Bay atop the NFC South and the -600 betting favourite to win that division a fifth straight season, and Detroit battling for the NFC North lead and my choice to win that division a third straight season (priced +135), there’s a pretty good chance these clubs face off this winter in the playoffs.
Each club has one of the most electric young offensive players in the league at their positions: Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka for Tampa Bay and third-year running back Jahmyr Gibbs for Detroit. Egbuka is +200 for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year but in question for this one. I could see Gibbs factoring in the NFL Offensive Player of the Year race; he’s currently priced +2500 for that.
The clubs met Week 2 last season also at Ford Field, and the Lions were upset, 20-16, as 7.5-point favourites (total was 51.5). Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for a score and rushed for the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter. The former Heisman Trophy winner fumbled twice, but the Bucs didn’t lose either. Detroit’s Jared Goff, a former No. 1 overall pick like Mayfield, threw for 307 yards but it took him 55 attempts and he was picked off twice. Gibbs had 84 yards rushing on 13 carries and seven catches for 22 yards but kept out of the end zone.
Including two playoff games, Detroit leads the all-time series 33-30.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay’s first six games were all decided by one possession but that streak ended on Sunday when the Bucs took care of fellow 4-1 team San Francisco, 30-19. Baker Mayfield continued his MVP-calibre season with 256 yards and two passing TDs. He wasn’t picked and has just one INT all year. Mayfield is the first NFL QB since Patrick Mahomes in 2020 with at least 12 passing TDs and zero or one INT through six games.
The Bucs were without No. 1 running back Bucky Irving, starting wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and starting right guard Cody Mauch and right tackle Luke Goedeke all due to injury. And then they lost rookie sensation WR Emeka Egbuka to a hamstring injury. The former Ohio State star has been a steal as the No. 19 overall pick in this year’s draft. But hamstring injuries usually lead to missing at least one game.
The team has been without Evans for three weeks with a hamstring injury, and Godwin is not likely back yet from a fibula injury. Tampa Bay can score when healthy, so if it defends it is a legit NFC contender. It had six sacks on Sunday. The Bucs’ 5-1 start has matched the best in team history. They are 4-2 ATS in their past six.
Detroit Lions
It’s a second straight primetime game for the Lions as they had a four-game winning streak snapped in a 30-17 loss in Kansas City on Sunday night in a potential Super Bowl preview. There was a post-game fight that could lead to a suspension of excellent Lions safety Brian Branch. Both of Detroit’s losses have been away by double digits (2-2 overall on road), but it has won both home games by at least 24 points.
On Sunday, Lions QB Jared Goff did have two TD throws but was held to 203 yards passing. Star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown was held to 45 yards receiving Sunday and electric tailback Jahmyr Gibbs needed 17 carries to gain just 65 yards. Pro left tackle Taylor Decker missed it injured. The 17 points were the Lions’ third-fewest in game the last two seasons.
Defensively, Detroit was missing injured D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox in the secondary. But Pro Bowl pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson had a sack and now has at least one in five straight games. He’s the first Detroit player to do that since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its past five.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Buccaneers vs. Lions?
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TB
DET