Bucs vs. Seahawks, 11/3/19 NFL Week 9 Betting Predictions

Bucs vs. Seahawks Week 9 Prediction

The Seahawks opened as 5.5-point home favorites for their Week 9 matchup with the Bucs but the line has dropped to 5 at most sports books. Given some of Tampa Bay’s performances on the road this year, should the Bucs be considered a live dog?

Game Snapshot

467 Tampa Bay Bucs (+5) at 468 Seattle Seahawks (-5); O/U 51.5

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, November 3, 2019

CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

Public Betting Odds

According to our NFL Public Betting Chart page, the Seahawks are drawing 68% of the betting tickets ahead of tonight’s game.

Tampa Bay Bucs Fantasy Spin

Cameron Brate (ribs) is questionable for the Buccaneers' Week 9 matchup against the Seahawks. O.J. Howard (hamstring) has already been ruled out. Brate caught 3-of-6 targets for 32 scoreless yards with Howard sidelined last week, but played a modest 66% of the offense's snaps. Brate is a thin option even with Howard sidelined as long as both Antony Auclair (42%) and Tanner Hudson (25%) remain so involved.

Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Spin

Seahawks claimed WR Josh Gordon off waivers from the Patriots. Coach Pete Carroll said, "He’s a unique talent. Next week we’ll take a look and see what he looks like." Gordon is apparently healthy after being released from the injured reserve list by the Patriots, although he won't suit up Sunday against the Buccaneers. Tyler Lockett is safe in the slot, while electric rookie D.K. Metcalf figures to continue to see a majority of reps in 2-WR sets. Gordon's presence will most likely relegate David Moore and Jaron Brown to the bench. Flash is far from washed; he demonstrated some elite contested-catch ability and made plenty of solid plays after the catch in six games with the Patriots this season. Still, the Seahawks' run-first offense will struggle to enable more than one or two consistent fantasy WRs more weeks than not.

Tampa Bay

The Bucs are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games versus the Seahawks while the underdog has cashed in four of the last five meetings between the two teams.

Seattle

The home team is just 3-7 against the spread in the last 10 meetings between these two teams and the Seahawks are also winless at the betting window in their last five games played at CenturyLink Field.

NFL Week 9 Prediction

For one reason or another, this matchup reminds me of the Bucs’ game against the Rams a few weeks back (perhaps because the Seahawks also play in the NFC West). In that game, Tampa was a sizable underdog and the Bucs threw the ball all over the stadium while winning outright. Granted, Seattle is a difficult place to win for opponents…unless you’re Bruce Arians, that is. The Bucs head coach is 4-1 against the spread and 4-1 straight up in Seattle after manning the sidelines for the Cardinals in prior seasons. Obviously Arians runs the same offense that he did in Arizona, so perhaps there’s something to matching up with Pete Carroll’s defense. Speaking of which, safety Quandre Diggs (hamstring) is doubtful for the Seahawks, which is a big blow to their secondary. On the other side, while the Bucs have struggled in pass defense, their front seven under new DC Todd Bowles (who is also familiar with the Seahawks after coaching under Arians in Arizona) has been excellent versus the run. Seattle is one of the most run-heavy offenses in the league and even though Brian Schottenheimer has the edge with Russell Wilson, I don’t expect him to change his game plan. Thus, I see the Bucs’ run defense holding up and for Arians to cook up another great game plan for Carroll’s defense.

NFL WEEK 9 PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY BUCS +5