Steelers vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 3 Odds, Prediction
Despite all that, they are still underdogs for a third consecutive week heading into this one against the winless Pittsburgh Steelers.
Odds makers have penciled in the visiting side Steelers as -1 point favourites in this game.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Buccaneers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games overall dating back to the end of the 2017 season, while the Steelers have struggled against the number as of late, going 1-8 ATS in their last nine games (0-6 ATS on grass fields). Head-to-head there really isn’t much of a history between these two franchises, having met only two times in the last 12 years (each with a 1-1 record). Dating back more than 20 years, the Steelers are 4-1 ATS against the Bucs.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are having all sorts of problems lately, especially on the defensive side of the ball. In two games, the team has allowed a whopping 63 points (31.5 ppg) against. Only the Bills (78) and Chiefs (65) have allowed more points against. This past Sunday, Patrick Mahomes torched the Steelers, throwing six touchdowns in a 42-37 loss. The club is still feeling the absence of Ryan Shazier from last season, while the secondary is missing veteran cornerback Joe Haden. They sacked Mahomes just one time, and have forced two turnovers in two games.
Despite being winless in two games, the offense has been decent so far, putting up 58 points in the first two games, but you wouldn’t know it but looking at star receiver Antonio Brown. Regarded by many as the NFL’s best receiver, Brown has had a rough couple of days, from a sideline confrontation with offensive co-ordinator Randy Fichtner, a “trade-me” tweet , to a no-show at practice on Monday morning. Head Coach Mike Tomlin said he would speak “very directly” to Brown about the situation. It should be interesting to see which Steelers team shows up on Monday night football.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Back-to-back NFC offensive player of the week awards, 819 yards, eight touchdown passes, and a completion percentage of 78.9 percent, that’s all quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has done in Bucs first two games of the season. Not bad for a 35-year-old back who is filling in for a suspended Jameis Winston. This game marks the third and final game of Winston’s suspension. It’ll be interesting to see what Head Coach Dirk Koetter does in that situation. But that’s another story for another week.
The undefeated Buccaneers face a Steelers team looking for their first win of the season. Both parts of the statement are surprising. Receiver DeSean Jackson has been a favourite target of Fitzpatrick, hauling in nine catches for 275 yards. That’s tops in the NFL.
