When you’re struggling things have a way of going from bad to worse. And right now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are struggling. Just how bad is it? Well, the Bucs lost for the fourth time in five games 21-3 to Carolina on Sunday in a huge upset. Tampa was positioned as a 13-point favorite against a club that had one win in its previous 13 games and was starting a third-string quarterback.
Before you write Tom Brady and the Bucs off keep in mind they’re tied for first in the NFC South heading into their Week 8 Thursday Night Football matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Tampa is catching 2-points on the opening line which would make them an underdog for the first time.
Ravens vs Bucs Date, Time, Where To Watch
The Week 8 Thursday Night Football contest between the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL at 8:15 p.m. ET on October 27, 2022 and will be shown on Prime Video.
Ravens vs Bucs Odds
Baltimore Ravens -2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2
Over/Under 45
Odds Analysis
It’s a strange time for Brady with his team below .500 this late in a season for the first time in like 20 years. And after dropping four of their last five while going 0-5 ATS, the Bucs are catching 2-points on the opening line. If the spread holds it’ll be the first time this season Tampa is a dog. That might be a good thing since things didn’t work out in previous weeks. The Bucs were a near two-touchdown favorite last week and laid double-digits the previous two games, losing outright to Pittsburgh in Week 6 while getting by Atlanta prior to that. They are just 2-5 ATS. The Ravens are riding their own ATS skid going 0-3 in their last three while laying points each time.
Baltimore Ravens
Losing games when leading by double-digits in the fourth quarter was a thing for the Ravens. Their three setbacks all occurred when holding a big advantage and was something we don’t typically see from Jim Harbaugh’s outfit. Once could be considered a fluke, but three times is a trend and not a good one. Two weeks ago Baltimore had a 20-10 lead over the Giants midway through the final period before giving up two touchdowns with the winner coming with under two minutes remaining. So, when the Ravens took a 20-10 lead over the Browns halfway through the third on Sunday there had to be some anxious moments.
At least for one week the Ravens avoided a letdown holding on to beat the Browns 23-20. They failed to cover the 6.5-point line, though, falling to 2-4-1 ATS. Holding the Ravens back is their defense, which ranks 21st in points allowed, and the offense hasn’t been able to pick up the slack. Many say Lamar Jackson’s contract situation is holding him back, and while that might be the case the unit could improve its fifth-best rushing attack with the return of Gus Edwards. Playing for the first time in a year and a half, Edwards ran for 66 yards with a pair of TDs. Baltimore is averaging 20.5 points over the last four games cashing the UNDER in all of them.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Before starting on the Bucs’ obituary just remember they are tied for first in the NFC South and the trouble the offense is dealing with likely won’t last. This could be a case of Father Time catching up with Brady, but as long as the GOAT is out there I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. We actually expected some regression on the offensive side when the club changed coaches. Todd Bowles is after all a defensive guy where Bruce Arians was the opposite.
Sometimes you have to hit the bottom before working your way back up. And if Sunday’s loss wasn’t as far as you could go there can’t be much room left. Going against a team that recently fired its coach, started a third-string QB and traded away its greatest playmaker, the Bucs were laying 13 points on the closing line. Tampa failed to score a touchdown, ran for only 46 yards and was 2 of 12 on third downs. It added up to a humbling loss that put the Bucs at 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS. They scored 21 points or less in six of their seven games with the UNDER at 6-1.
Ravens vs Buccaneers Prediction
You know Brady does not like to lose so I expect him and the Bucs to figure things out. It won’t be easy against the elusive Jackson and if the Ravens have success running the ball like Carolina, the Bucs could be in danger of losing again. And one thing Baltimore does well is run the football. The play of Edwards was a boost and we all know what Lamar can do. The Ravens are opportunistic defensively, too, with a league leading 14 takeaways.
NFL Prediction: Baltimore Ravens -2 / UNDER 45
