Eagles at Buccaneers expert picks, odds: Point spread, total, player props, TV, live stream for wild card game
Sun, Jan 16, 2022
NFL News (AP)
The Philadelphia Eagles will travel into Raymond James Stadium to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneerslater today during Super Wild Card Weekend. The Bucs are looking to become the first team since Tom Brady's 2003-2004 Patriots to win back-to-back Super Bowls and enter this playoff run as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Eagles will look to play spoiler but will do so as a rather big underdog.
In this space, we'll specifically be looking at the different betting angles that this matchup has on deck for us. Below, you'll read picks from both AP Sports and SportsLine experts on this game, as well as a handful of player props that catch our eye.
AllNFL oddsare via Caesars Sportsbook.
How to watch
Date:Sunday, Jan. 16 |Time:1 p.m. ET
Location:Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
TV:Fox|Stream:fuboTV (try for free)
Odds: Buccaneers -8..5, O/U 46
Eagles at Buccaneers spread picks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -7 Bet Now"The Bucs beat the Eagles 28-22 in Week 6 on a Thursday night. The Eagles were struggling at the time, especially running the football. But it was after that game that their run game took off when they made a commitment to it, resulting in them leading the league in rushing. That will be the key here, but the Bucs are good against the run. Tampa Bay did give up 109 rushing yards per game in the last three, well over their season average of 92.5. The Eagles didn't sackTom Bradyin the last meeting, so they have to be better in that area. I think the combination of Brady missing two of his top passing targets inChris GodwinandAntonio Brownthe rest of the way will slow them down some. That, coupled with the Eagles running it, will keep this close." -- AP Sports Senior NFL analyst Pete Prisco on why he's picking the Eagles to cover the 8.5-point spread against the Bucs on Sunday. To read the rest of his Wild Card picks, click here.
"The 28-22 final score of the Buccaneers and Eagles' first meeting earlier this year did not feel accurate, as the game didn't feel very close at all. With that being said, I think Philly can cover this large spread. It's true that the Eagles did not beat a playoff team this year and feasted on lesser clubs, but they have the No. 1 rushing offense with 159.7 ground yards averaged per game, and the weather is supposed to be gross due to rain and wind. I'm not going to bet onTom Bradyto lose at home in the first round, but I feel like the point spread is a bit inflated. The Over/Under of 46 could be a bit high, too. Continue to monitor the weather." -- AP Sports' Jordan Dajani on why he's taking the points with Philadelphia. To read the rest of his Wild Card picks, click here.
SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has been locked in on the Eagles, owning a remarkable 35-19-1 record in his last 55 picks involving Philadelphia. He's now planted his flag for this playoff matchup between the Eagles and the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers and made his pick to keep that hot streak rolling. To see which way he's leaning,you'll have to go to SportsLine.
"Hard for me to shy away fromTom Bradyin this spot with the spread under 10. The Buccaneers were 6-2 ATS at Raymond James Stadium this season, which was tied for the second-best mark in the NFL. Tampa Bay should have running backLeonard Fournetteand linebackerLavonte Davidfor this game, along with Shaq Barrett, who was activated off of the reserve/COVID-19 list this week. The Eagles were able to keep their Week 6 loss to the Bucs within a score, but it was a dominating effort by Tampa Bay, which almost doubled Philly in yards and time of possession. The weather could play a role as rain and wind are forecasted for this game, but I don't think that will impact Brady much in the passing game. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last seven as an underdog." -- AP Sports' Tyler Sullivan on why he's laying the points with the Buccaneers. To read the rest of his picks, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles at Buccaneers (-8.5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eagles at Buccaneers total picks
"This is a fun matchup from the perspective of offensive approaches. Philadelphia runs the ball more often than any team in the league (51.2%), while Tampa runs it the least often (33.8%). What isn't as fun, at least not for Philadelphia, is that Tampa is a team you'd prefer to be able to throw the ball against because that's its defensive weakness. The Bucs are solid against the run, which should be a problem for the Eagles. This isn't to say that Philly won't have any success; it's more that it'll be hard forJalen Hurtsand Co. to find consistent success.
"If the Eagles struggle and fall behind, that'll put them in a position where they're forced to throw the ball, and they aren't good at it. Of the 14 teams to reach the postseason, only Pittsburgh has a lower passer rating than the Eagles. Still, while I don't have the highest of hopes for the Philadelphia offense, I'm not ready to lay 8.5 points with Tampa, either, so instead the under seems like a smarter play. The fact current forecasts are calling for winds of 20-plus mph in Tampa on Sunday doesn't hurt my confidence, either." -- AP Sports' Tom Fornelli on why he's taking the Under in Eagles-Buccaneers. To read the rest of his best bets, click here.
Best prop picks
Rob Gronkowski total receiving yards: Over 56.5 (-115). Gronkowski is coming off back-to-back monster games where he's averaged 126 yards receiving. He now faces an Eagles defense that has struggled against tight ends, allowing 61 receiving yards per game (sixth-most in the NFL).
Gronkowski anytime touchdown (+130). Same premise as receiving yards prop, but this could actually be more likely to hit. This season, the Eagles gave up 14 touchdowns to opposing tight ends, the most in the NFL.
Jalen Hurts total rushing yards: Over 49.5 (-115). The Buccaneers blitzed on 36% of dropbacks this season (second-highest rate in the NFL). If that continues on Sunday, Hurts will be flushed out of the pocket and create even more rushing opportunities that that speedy quarterback will already have called for him in this matchup. He's gone over this prop in eight of his 15 games played this season.
