Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Cincinnati Bengals come from tough loses, which is why both will be looking to recover this Sunday in what looks can be a shootout between two deep offensive units. Let’s take a look at the latest odds and betting value these two teams are offering for NFL Week 8.
Buccaneers vs Bengals NFL Week 8 Spread & Betting Analysis
- When: Sunday, 1 PM ET
- Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
- TV: Fox
- Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
- NFL Week 8 Spread: Cincinnati Bengals -4.5 (Total 54)
Weather Forecast
- Mostly Cloudy: 11°C/52°F
- Humidity: 74%
- Precipitation: 23%
- Cloud Cover: 66%
- Wind: 7 mph SW
- Stadium Type: Open
Last Meeting
In 2014, the Bengals won 14-13 at Tampa Bay. Andy Dalton played through the flu and ran for one touchdown and threw for another. Dalton threw three first-half interceptions and Cincinnati overcame 10 penalties. Tampa Bay had an incredibly stupid penalty in the closing seconds for having too many men on the field. The infraction overturned a 21-yard pass completion that would have moved the Bucs into position for a possible game-winning field goal. It was the last of 13 penalties called against them. Lovie Smith was the Bucs’ coach back then and Josh McCown the QB.Tampa Bay leads 7-4, thanks to a six-game series win streak in meetings spanning from 1995 through 2010. The Buccaneers are 5-2 in games played in Cincinnati, including 3-0 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
Tampa Bay kicker Chandler Catanzaro converted the game-winning 59-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining in the Buccaneers’ 26-23 overtime win over Cleveland last Sunday. Catanzaro’s 59-yarder is the longest game-winning field goal in overtime since the regular-season overtime rule was instituted in 1974, surpassing the previous record of 57 yards set by Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski (October 19, 2008, vs. the New York Jets).At least one game has gone to overtime in each of the first seven weeks of the 2018 season, marking the first time that a season has featured at least one overtime game in each of its first seven weeks.
Jameis Winston completed 32-of-52 passes for 365 yards with an interception while rushing 10 times for 55 yards and a touchdown. Winston threw two telegraphed interceptions and a lost a fumble on a scramble but also shook off multiple sacks and extended drives in the run game consistently. Winston has now turned in games of 395 and 365 passing yards in his two starts. Winston’s 66 turnovers are second-most in the league since 2015.
Ronald Jones rushed six times for 13 yards and a touchdown while catching his lone target for 15 yards. Jones was hardly used until Peyton Barber appeared to suffer an injury in the third quarter. Not clear if Barber will play Sunday.
The Bucs got horrible news that star LB Kwon Alexander tore his ACL vs. the Browns. Alexander suffered the injury with 18 seconds left in the first half. He was blitzing quarterback Baker Mayfield and planted his foot, going down without contact. Players on both teams immediately knelt down. Alexander was able to leave the field under his own power. Alexander is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March. Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said Kwon Alexander is the “heart and soul of our defense.”
The Bucs are now thin at linebacker. Rookie Jack Cichy, who stepped into Adarius Taylor’s strongside spot (Taylor slid over to Alexander’s middle spot), also suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and is out for the season. Last year’s starting strongside linebacker, Kendell Beckwith, is still recovering from ankle surgery after an offseason car accident.
Team Stats
Offense- Average Score For: 27.83
- Total Yards: 449.83
- Rush Yards: 85.83
- Passing Yards: 364.00
- Average Score Against: 32.67
- Total Yards: 417.33
- Rush Yards: 90.00
- Passing Yards: 327.33
Why Bet on Cincinnati?
The Bengals were routed 45-10 in Kansas City on Sunday. Andy Dalton completed 15-of-29 passes for 148 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The Bengals got off to a sluggish start, but Dalton managed a first-quarter touchdown to C.J. Uzomah. He telegraphed a pick-six on the first drive of the second half and couldn’t get anything going after that. It’s one of the worst starts of the season for Dalton, who’s had multiple TDs in 5-of-7 games.A.J. Green caught 7-of-14 targets for 117 yards. On the season, he has 40 receptions for 611 yards and five touchdowns, putting him on pace for season totals of 91 catches for 1397 yards and 11 scores and within reach of career highs in all three of those categories (he has career highs of 98 receptions, 1426 yards, and 11 TDs).
The offense didn’t take advantage of a weak defense and couldn’t get the ball to anyone but A.J. Green. The reliable Tyler Boyd was barely a factor against the Chiefs, while John Ross, who came back after missing two games with a groin injury, was practically invisible before leaving again due to the injury. Offensive lineman Alex Redmond allowed a team-high 6 total pressures against the Chiefs. Redmond has now allowed 3 more pressures than any other guard in football and ranks 34th in run-block grade (58.2).
The Bengals are 3-16 on Sunday night, losing nine straight. The Cincinnati defense unit put on its worst performance of the season with a national audience watching, allowing 551 yards. Even linebacker Vontaze Burfict, arguably one of the Bengals’ best defensive players, looked completely inept when matched up against the speed of the Chiefs’ offense. Burfict had only two tackles before leaving in the third quarter with a hip injury. The Bengals’ defensive line has failed to get any pressure the last two games and Cincinnati’s defense has given up at least 480 yards in three of its last four games.
Team Stats
Offense- Average Score For: 26.29
- Total Yards: 336.00
- Rush Yards: 86.29
- Passing Yards: 249.71
- Average Score Against: 29.00
- Total Yards: 429.42
- Rush Yards: 128.71
- Passing Yards: 300.71
Buccaneers vs Bengals NFL Week 8 Betting Trends
- Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 8
- Buccaneers are 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 games in October
- Bengals are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game
- Bengals are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games
- Tampa Bay is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games
- The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 7 games
- Cincinnati is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati’s last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay
