Lions vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 6 Odds, Prediction
Tampa Bay improved to 3-1 with a 26-9 road win against the Saints two weeks ago and they now hold top spot in the NFC South division. The Lions are also rolling and lead the NFC North with a 4-1 record following last week’s 42-24 blowout win over Carolina.
Detroit is an early 3-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, while the total sits at 42.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These teams haven’t met since Week 16 of the 2020 season when the Bucs crushed the Lions 47-7 in Detroit. The Lions were missing multiple members of their coaching staff because of COVID protocols. Five different quarterbacks took snaps in the game, including Tom Brady and Blaine Gabbert for Tampa, while Matthew Stafford, Chase Daniel and David Blough threw for Detroit. All five QBs are either retired or have moved on to different teams.
The Lions have been a solid cover option this season, going 4-1 against the spread overall, including 2-0 ATS on the road. Dating back to last season, they are 13-2 ATS in their last 15 games. Detroit has hit the Over in two straight games and three of their last four.
Tampa Bay is 3-1 ATS in 2023, covering in one of two home games. They’ve had serious problems covering against Detroit, however, as they are 0-6 ATS in their last six against the Lions. The Bucs have hit the Over just once this season.
Detroit Lions
The Lions seem to be flying a bit under the radar as San Francisco and Philadelphia have taken the spotlight in the NFC. But, don’t sleep on Detroit. They have three straight wins by double digit margins and they beat defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City in Week 1. Jared Goff has been a big part of that success. Goff threw for 236 yards and three TDs last week against Carolina and ran another score in on the ground. Running back David Montgomery has also been key to the Lions’ success. Montgomery, who had 109 rushing yards and a touchdown last week, has 371 rushing yards on the season and his six rushing TDs is third-best in the league.
It’s worth keeping an eye on the statuses of receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. St. Brown is listed as day-to-day after missing Week 5 with an abdomen injury, but it looks like he is trending towards playing on Sunday. It’s a different story for Gibbs, who hasn’t practiced and is unlikely to play for a second straight week due to a hamstring injury.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have been one of the surprise teams early in the NFL season and that’s in large part due to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s successful start to his Tampa Bay career. The 2018 first overall draft pick threw for 246 yards, three TDs and an interception as the Bucs beat New Orleans by 17 points in Week 4 despite entering the game as 4.5-point underdogs. Mayfield has 882 passing yards in four games, throwing for seven TDs and just two interceptions. Receiver Chris Godwin has also contributed and is coming off his best game of the season in Week 4, finishing with 114 yards on eight catches.
The concern for Tampa Bay in the lead up to Sunday’s game is the status of No. 1 receiver Mike Evans, who injured his hamstring in the second quarter of Week 4. Evans didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday, which makes it doubtful he will be ready to go this week. If Evans is ruled out, look for Godwin to draw more targets and have another big game.