Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Pick

Chicago Bears (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9 SU, 1-0 ATS)

NFL Football Week 2

Date/Time: Sunday September 17th, 2023. 1:00 PM (EST)

Where: Raymond James Stadium Tampa, FL

TV: FOX

Betting Odds:

Point Spread: CHI +3/TB -3 (Be smart! Bet at REDUCED JUICE! IT’S FREE!)

Moneyline: Da Bears +140/Bucs -160

Total: 41.5

Last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned a season opening victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the first game following the Tom Brady era. Personally, I was very critical of Baker Mayfield’s chances to win that game against the potent Minnesota offense. However, the Buccaneers defense was able to force three turnovers, and Mayfield was able to hit 21 of 34 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Despite being near a full touchdown underdog, the Buccaneers won outright with a 20-17 victory and perhaps built some confidence going into this week’s first home game against the visiting Chicago Bears.

The visiting Chicago Bears are fresh on the heels of a disappointing 38-20 home loss against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears were simply outclassed on both sides of the ball in that game, and QB Justin Fields was held to a modest 216 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bears threatening rushing attack with Fields and a trio of running backs were also held to just 122 yards on 29 attempts in what can only be described as an inefficient performance. This week, Fields and company will attempt to get back on track as slight underdogs when they make the trip south to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Doubling down against Baker Mayfield

I did not think the Buccaneers would produce enough offense last week to contend with the Minnesota Vikings, and that was largely due to Mayfield’s horrendous record as a starter. To give credit, Mayfield did have a decent game and made a couple of big plays, most notably by getting WR Mike Evans involved down the field. However, I am far from conceding the fact that Mayfield is a quarterback that bettors should trust. Despite the win that was fueled by turnovers, Mayfield still flashed his normal signs of inconsistency. In an equally important observation, it is worth noting that the Buccaneers’ running game was absolutely horrendous against one of the worst defenses in the NFL, producing just 73 yards on 33 attempts.

The ground game was expected to be a concern this season as RB Rachaad White took over the starting role. White carried the ball 17 times for just 39 yards. Undrafted backup running back Sean Tucker did not produce any better results, with five carries for 15 yards. Needless to say, I didn’t see any signs of life from this Tampa Bay rushing attack, just as we witnessed during the end of the 2022 campaign. If this trend holds true, more pressure will be put on Mayfield to move the chains, and I just don’t think that is a sustainable concept. As a result, I am doubling down on fading Mayfield for the 2nd straight week and letting the law of large averages work their magic.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends

• The Bears are 1-8 ATS in the last nine games.
• The Bears are 0-10 SU in the last ten games.
• The Bears are 1-8 SU in the last nine games on the road.
• The Bears have hit the “over” in 9 of the last 12 games.
• The Buccaneers are 2-7 ATS in the last nine games.
• The Buccaneers are 2-8-1 ATS in the last 11 games at home.
• The Buccaneers have hit the “under” in 13 of the last 19 games.
• The Buccaneers are 9-3 SU in the last 12 games at home against Chicago.

Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Prediction

There are major concerns for both offenses in this game, but I do believe the Bears have a great shot at bouncing back this week. Fields is going to continue to cause concerns with his feet, and he has more weapons this season with WR DJ Moore, who was held to just two catches last week. I’m expecting a rebound effort from this Bears offense, which I expect to be improved this year.
Jay’s Pick: Take the Bears +3.

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