The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) will try to avenge last season’s playoff loss as they visit the Detroit Lions (1-0) this Sunday, Sept. 15, at 1 p.m. ET.
Baker Mayfield looked terrific in a blowout win over the Commanders in Week 1. Meanwhile, the Lions squeaked by the Rams in a thrilling overtime victory.
While Detroit is projected to win this game, look for it to be closer than expected. Check out the latest Buccaneers vs Lions odds along with my predictions and best bets for this Week 2 matchup.
Buccaneers vs Lions Odds
NFL odds are current as of Friday, Sept. 13, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Buccaneers (+295) vs Lions (-375)
- Spread: Buccaneers +7.5 (-112) vs Lions -7.5 (-108)
- Over/Under: Over 51.5 (-108) / Under 51.5 (-112)
Lions vs Buccaneers Prediction
Lions 28, Buccaneers 24
There’s no doubt that the Lions are among the best teams in the NFL. Detroit has a dominant offensive line that allows them to exert their will on opponents with a strong running game led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Add in the fact that deep-threat Jameson Williams looks set for a breakout season, and you have an offense that looks virtually unstoppable.
But let’s give some credit to the Bucs, specifically Baker Mayfield, who ranks top five in EPA per play since landing in Tampa. If you remove his Week 18 game where he played injured vs the Panthers, Mayfield is averaging 324.7 passing yards per game and 9.6 yards per attempt in his last six.
The Lions were one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL last season. While I expect to see improvement after they drafted cornerback Terrion Arnold and brought in Carlton Davis, we did see Matthew Stafford make some plays through the air last week.
To sum it up, I like the Bucs to keep this one within a touchdown in a close loss. Mayfield is playing too well to count out right now, especially against a defense with some question marks.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Buccaneers vs Lions Best Bets
Buccaneers +7.5 (-112) @ Lions
I love getting past the key number of seven points with the Bucs here. It’s great to be able to win this wager even if Tampa loses by a touchdown.
The Bucs’ offense might be better this year, even though they lost Dave Canales. That’s because new offensive coordinator Liam Coen is making all the right moves, including putting Chris Godwin back in the slot.
This is a deeper group that now includes impressive rookies Jalen McMillan and Bucky Irving.
It wouldn’t shock me to see the Bucs put a scare in the Lions here. Detroit is a Super Bowl contender, but this one may come down to the wire. Ride with the Lions as 7.5-point underdogs with your NFL bet of the day.
Jalen McMillan: Over 29.5 Receiving Yards (-125)
Jalen McMillan played 82% of the snaps in Week 1, making him one of three rookie wideouts to do so (Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. were the other two).
This is an offense that utilizes 3-WR sets at a high rate, which means that McMillan is on the field quite often.
We saw McMillan put up an 18.0 average depth of target in Week 1, so he’s a deep threat that can eclipse this number in one play.
In fact, that’s exactly what McMillan did in Week 1, where he caught a 32-yard touchdown.
Ride with the Bucs’ intriguing rookie in this pass-heavy game script.
