Ravens vs. Bucs Spread Prediction
The Baltimore Ravens are laying 8.5 points on Sunday at home to the visiting Tampa Bay Bucs at 1:00 p.m. ET. Is that too steep of a price for bettors or should they lay the wood with the favorite?
Game Snapshot
311 Tampa Bay Bucs at 312 Baltimore Ravens
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 16
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Ravens are 8.5-point favorites to beat the Bucs. The total, meanwhile, sits at 46.5 points. As of this writing, 51% of the public betting tickets are on the Ravens to cover the point spread.
Tampa Bay Bucs
DeSean Jackson (thumb) is out for Week 15 against the Ravens. As expected. The Bucs will continue utilizing Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Adam Humphries in three-wide sets. Baltimore’s boasts arguably the league’s best secondary, but Godwin’s on-field usage and opportunity remain marks worth chasing. He’s a low-end WR2 against the Ravens in Week 15.
Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson (ankle) wasn’t listed on the Ravens’ final injury report for Week 15 against the Buccaneers. Jackson hurt his ankle late Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, but it didn’t limit his participation at practice this week. Now entrenched as the Ravens’ starter, L-Jax will have a chance to shred a hapless Bucs defense in Week 15. We’re not sold on Jackson as a passer yet, but his rushing ability keeps him in play as a weekly QB1 in all formats.
NFL Betting Trends
Tampa Bay
The Bucs are 3-7-1 against the spread in their last 11 games overall and are 1-3-1 against the number in their last five road games.
Baltimore
The Ravens have covered the spread in six of their last eight games played in the month of December.
Prediction
The Bucs lead the NFL in turnovers with 31 and with Jameis Winston expected to be under siege by Baltimore’s defense, Tampa Bay should add to that turnover number. The Bucs have been horrendous defensively on the road this season, allowing 42 points to the Panthers, 37 to the Bengals, 34 to the Falcons, 48 to the Saints and 38 to the Giants. Given how the Bucs are traveling for the first time in four weeks and are headed north to play in the elements, I’m fading Tampa this afternoon.
NFL Week 15 Prediction: Baltimore Ravens -8.5