Bucs vs. Eagles Spread Prediction
The Bucs pulled off the biggest upset of Week 1 and will now host the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on Sunday for Week 2. Does Tampa Bay have another upset in it or will Philadelphia improve to 2-0 on the year?
Game Snapshot
275 Philadelphia Eagles at 276 Tampa Bay Bucs
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 16
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Eagles are 3-point favorites to beat the Bucs. The total, meanwhile, sits at 45 points. As of this writing, 70% of the public betting tickets are on the Eagles to cover the point spread.
Philadelphia Eagles
Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) is out for Week 2 against the Buccaneers. Jeffery himself admitted he’s still a “few weeks” away, so this isn’t developing news. Darren Sproles (hamstring) and Carson Wentz (knee) were also ruled out. Nelson Agholor remains a solid WR2 against a Bucs defensive unit likely without starting CBs Brent Grimes (groin) and Vernon Hargreaves (shoulder, I.R.). Mike Wallace is considered a viable FLEX flier given his 107 air yards on three targets in Week 1.
Tampa Bay Bucs
NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reports DeSean Jackson cleared the concussion protocol and will play against the Eagles.This was the expectation after Jackson got in a full practice Friday. With Jackson back and the Bucs unlikely to score 48 points against the Eagles, neither he nor Chris Godwin is anything more than a WR4/FLEX play with upside. For those who like revenge narratives, Jackson did average 88 yards per game with two scores in five meetings with the Eagles while he was in Washington.
NFL Betting Trends
Philadelphia
The Eagles have covered the spread in four straight games and are also 10-3 against the number in their last 13 conference matchups.
Tampa Bay
The Bucs are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games overall.
Prediction
This feels like a trap game with bettors only having to lay three points on the defending champs but then again, it’s not as if Nick Foles was sharp in the Eagles’ season opener a week ago versus Atlanta. The difference for me here is that Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t play that well again two weeks in a row. He’ll come crashing back to earth and when he does, it’ll likely be hard. The Eagles’ stout defense won’t allow Fitzpatrick to move the ball as easily as he did a week ago and Foles is capable of moving the ball just enough against this banged-up Tampa Bay secondary to post a victory for the Eagles.
NFL Week 2 Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles -3