Cardinals vs. Bucs Week 10 Prediction
Public bettors are backing the Cardinals as a road underdog versus the Bucs, who opened as a 5.5-point home favorite but are now laying only 4.5 points. Is Arizona the best play in this matchup or does Tampa Bay still hold some value for bettors?
Game Snapshot
255 Arizona Cardinals (+4.5) at 256 Tampa Bay Bucs (-4.5); O/U 52
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, November 10
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Cardinals are receiving 56% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Spin
David Johnson (ankle) wasn’t listed on the Cardinals’ final injury report. Look for the Cardinals to utilize a one-two punch featuring Johnson as the backfield’s 1.A. option and Kenyan Drake in more of a 1.B. role based on how well the team’s new RB performed during his debut. Still, it might be tough to expect consistent fantasy production from Drake as long as Johnson is active; the Cardinals’ featured back played at least 60% of the offense’s snaps in Weeks 1-6 before leaving early in Week 7 due to injury.
Tampa Bay Bucs Fantasy Spin
O.J. Howard (hamstring) was a full participant for Wednesday’s practice. The Bucs moved Anthony Auclair (toe) to injured reserve mid-week but both Howard and Brate appear to be fully healthy ahead of Tampa Bay’s Week 10 matchup against the Cardinals. Howard only paced for 31/410 receiving on three targets per game before getting sidelined, but Sunday nonetheless makes for a blind faith bounce-back spot since Arizona’s allowed league-highs in catches (64), receiving yards (810) and touchdowns (9) to opposing tight ends. The 24-year-old ranks as a cross-your-fingers TE2 on Sunday.
NFL Betting Trends
Arizona
The Cardinals have covered the spread in four of their last five games overall but are just 3-8-1 against the number in their last 12 games played in the month of November.
Tampa Bay
The Bucs have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five home games and are winless against the spread in all four of their last four games overall.
Prediction
I understand why the Cardinals are receiving some love for bettors: Neither of these teams are playoff contenders and both have plenty of warts. Why lay 4.5 points with a Tampa team that isn’t very good? That said, the Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game this season, with opponents totaling an average of 280.7 yards through the air this season. That’s a nightmare scenario for the Cardinals, who will face a pass-happy Bucs offense that features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard, who is expected to return this week after missing the last two games with an injury. Yes, the Bucs can be had through the air as well. But rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has failed to throw a touchdown pass in four of his past six games. I’d rather back a Bucs team that nearly pulled off the upset last weekend in Seattle.
NFL Week 10 Prediction: Tampa Bay Bucs -4.5