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Tampa Bay at Minnesota NFL Week 3 Odds, Game Preview & Pick

Written by on September 21, 2017

NFL News and Rumors
You will want to wait until the last possible minute to bet on Sunday’s game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis because home’s team quarterback Sam Bradford could be a game-time decision after missing Week 2 due to a sore knee. Needless to say, the NFL Week 3 Odds could change depending on his final status.

Tampa Bay at Minnesota NFL Week 3 Odds, Game Preview & Pick

When: Sunday, 1 PM ET Where: US Bank Stadium TV: Fox Radio: WDAE 620 AM (Tampa Bay) / KFAN FM 100.3 (Minnesota) NFL Week 3 Odds: TBA

Series History

The Vikings and Buccaneers, who played in the same NFC Central division from 1997-2001, have played 54 times overall with Minnesota holding a 32-22-0 series record. The franchises have never met in the postseason. The Buccaneers and Vikings played the first regular-season game at the Tampa Bay Stadium, a 3-9 Vikings victory on 1977. The last meeting was Oct. 26, 2014. That day, the Vikings won 19-13 in overtime in Tampa. Current Bucs star QB Jameis Winston was still at Florida State then. Minnesota won when current linebacker Anthony Barr scored on a 27-yard fumble return on the first scrimmage play of overtime. Barr’s score came 17 seconds into the extra period, the quickest of any fumble return for a touchdown since regular-season overtime was instituted in 1974. The Vikings had extended the game on Blair Walsh’s 38-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.
  • Total Meetings: 54
  • First Meeting: Buccaneers 3 – Vikings 9 (1977)
  • Last Meeting: Buccaneers 13 – Vikings 19 (2014)
  • All-Time Series: Minnesota leads 32-22
  • Largest Margin of Victory: Minnesota +32 points
  • Longest Win Streak: Tampa Bay W6
  • Current Win Streak: Minnesota W1

Top NFL Odds to Bet Straight Up in Week 3

Why Bet on the Buccaneers NFL Week 3 Odds?

The Bucs only have played once due to Hurricane Irma and trashed the Bears 29-7 last week. Winston didn’t turn over the ball in Tampa Bay’s opening game, which marked the first time in his three-year career that he didn’t turn it over in the season opener. He threw for 204 yards and a TD. Mike Evans caught the TD and had seven grabs for 93 yards. The defense stymied former teammate Mike Glennon with four turnovers. Robert McClain returned one of the quarterback’s two interceptions for a TD, and the Bucs didn’t let the Bears into the end zone until Deonte Thompson scored on a 14-yard reception with 1:43 remaining. Lavonte David was the Buccaneers’ leading tackler against the Bears, picking up nine stops. Of his nine tackles, eight were solo. David also recovered a fumble – one of four turnovers for Tampa Bay – and had a tackle for a loss. The Bucs’ 22-point margin of victory was the second-largest in a season opener in team history. In 1987, under Ray Perkins, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons by 38 points (48-10) at the old Tampa Stadium. This was the Bucs’ second straight year winning their season opener, the first time they’ve done that in back-to-back seasons since 2000-01, when Tony Dungy was the head coach.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 29
  • Total Yards: 311
  • Rush Yards: 117
  • Passing Yards: 194
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 7
  • Total Yards: 310
  • Rush Yards: 20
  • Passing Yards: 290

Why Bet on the Vikings NFL Week 3 Odds?

It depends on QB Sam Bradford, in all honesty. He missed last week’s blowout loss in Pittsburgh due to a knee bruise, and Case Keenum was awful in his place. Keenum threw for 167 yards and zero touchdowns, which was especially unimpressive when you consider the production that the Vikings got from the quarterback position in Week 1. In Minnesota’s opener, Bradford threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-19 win over the Saints. Bradford spent last week practicing on a limited basis when he wasn’t getting an MRI in hopes of getting a handle on the swelling and discomfort in the same knee as his twice-torn ACL. According to coach Mike Zimmer, Bradford could be back on the field anytime between now and Halloween. Gee thanks Mike! “Sam is fine,” Zimmer said when asked about Bradford’s possible playing status. “He might play one game from now, he might play six weeks from now. Either way, he’s fine.” The NFL Week 3 Odds for the Vikings depends on the status of Sam Bradford. Rookie RB Dalvin Cook has gotten off to a fast start with 191 rushing yards through two games, a rush total that is third-best in the NFL. Cook, whose 5.62 rushing average ranks fifth in the NFL, has totaled 166 rushing yards in the second halves of games in 2017, which trails only Kareem Hunt’s 174 rushing yards in second halves. WR Adam Thielen led the Vikings in receptions in both games to start the season and ranks tied for fifth with 14 receptions entering Week 3. The Minnesota Vikings defense allowed 335 yards of offense against Pittsburgh but the unit was hurt by a handful of penalties. The Vikings limited Pittsburgh to just three conversions on 13 third-down tries. Everson Griffen had 2.0 sacks and now has 51.0 sacks in 50 career starts. Minnesota has allowed 22.5 points per game through two games. The Vikings run defense has held opponents to 3.0 yards-per-rush, seventh-best in the NFL and hasn’t allowed a run longer than 11 yards.

Team Statistics

Offense:
  • Average Score For: 19
  • Total Yards: 353.5
  • Rush Yards: 110
  • Passing Yards: 243.5
Defense:
  • Average Score Against: 22.5
  • Total Yards: 339.5
  • Rush Yards: 81
  • Passing Yards: 258.5

Game Trends & Expert NFL Week 3 Odds Pick

  • Buccaneers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
  • Buccaneers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
  • The total went UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games
  • Vikings are 23-7 ATS in their last 30 home games.
  • Vikings are 21-8 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up loss.
  • The total went OVER in 4 of Minnesota’s last 6 games
Wait for Bradford here. If he plays, the Vikings should be short favorites and I’d back them. If not, take Tampa regardless of the number – and the under no matter what.
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