The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars don’t play in the 2017 NFL preseason. So bragging rights in the Sunshine State, at least north of Miami, are on the line Thursday night. Of course, the Bucs are this year’s team featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks. After reviewing these two teams, we are going to take a look at the betting odds for the NFL preseason for this match and pick a winner you can bet on with confidence.
The first skirmish involved Jags defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and Bucs offensive tackle Donovan Smith pushing each other around. That was followed by Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson and Buccaneers safety Chris Conte scuffling, resulting in Conte losing his helmet. “We were just playing good defense and they were getting frustrated. He decided to push me so I’m not gonna let somebody push me around,” Conte said. The most significant clash of the day, however, came when Jags wideout Arrelious Benn punched Bucs linebacker Adarius Glanton.
Last year, the Bucs held joint practices during training camp with the Jags in preparation for the season and it was a success which is why coach Dirk Koetter wanted to do the same again this year.
Week 2 NFL Preseason Predictions Buccaneers at Jacksonville
When: Thursday, Aug. 17, 8 PM ET Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville TV: ESPN Radio: Sirius XM Radio Opening NFL Preseason Lines: Jags -1.5 (40.5) GAMETIME WEATHER Mostly Cloudy 27°C/81°F Humidity 87% Precipitation % 15% Cloud Cover 61% Wind 6 mph SSW Stadium Type OpenNFL Preseason Openers
Tampa Bay lost 23-12 in Week 1 in Cincinnati so this will be the Bucs’ final exhibition road game. Tampa Bay opened the game with a 14-play, 92-yard drive, but had to settle for a field goal after Adam “Pacman” Jones broke up a pair of Jameis Winston’s passes in the end zone. Roberto Aguayo made a 20-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s opening possession, but he was wide right on a 47-yard try and hit the right upright on the extra-point attempt. Nick Folk was good from 45 yards on his only chance and won the kicking competition as Aguayo was cut this week and signed by the Bears. Jacksonville opened with a 31-24 “upset” in New England – more proof the NFL preseason doesn’t matter. Chad Henne hit Keelan Cole on a 97-yard touchdown pass, and Corey Grant scored on a 79-yard run. Jaguars starter Blake Bortles completed 3 of 5 passes for 16 yards in two offensive series that resulted in one field goal. Henne came on with one play left in the first quarter and went 5 of 6 for 139 yards. No. 4 overall draft pick Leonard Fournette ran nine times for 31 yards and a 1-yard touchdown.Winning SU Picks Preseason NFL Week 2
No Fournette Or Lee
Jacksonville will be missing two of its key offensive players in Fournette and WR Marqise Lee. Fournette has a “nagging” foot injury that Coach Doug Marrone said has “been kind of growing.” The Jaguars have had him working mainly with the second-team offense in camp because Marrone says he wants rookies to earn their way up the depth chart. There’s no question Fournette will start Week 1 of the regular season. Lee badly sprained his right ankle during practice Sunday. He was wearing a walking boot and using a crutch Monday. He might not be ready for the Week 1 of the season. Lee had a career-high 63 catches for 851 yards and three touchdowns last season, and the Jaguars thought that with Lee joining Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Rashad Greene and rookie Dede Westbrook, they had a strong group of receivers. Now they’ll need that depth. Bortles says he doesn’t have an issue with his throwing arm even though Marrone decided to rest him over the weekend because Bortles’ arm “looked tired.” Marrone said Bortles was on a “pitch count,” but on Monday said that he misspoke and that Bortles looked like he had a tired arm, which was why he decided to cut Bortles’ reps.Tempers Flare
The Buccaneers and Jaguars had three skirmishes and several heated exchanges during a joint practice Tuesday. Tempers flared, helmets flew and punches were thrown as the teams “worked together” for the second consecutive day in sweltering summer heat and humidity.
The first skirmish involved Jags defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and Bucs offensive tackle Donovan Smith pushing each other around. That was followed by Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson and Buccaneers safety Chris Conte scuffling, resulting in Conte losing his helmet. “We were just playing good defense and they were getting frustrated. He decided to push me so I’m not gonna let somebody push me around,” Conte said. The most significant clash of the day, however, came when Jags wideout Arrelious Benn punched Bucs linebacker Adarius Glanton.
Last year, the Bucs held joint practices during training camp with the Jags in preparation for the season and it was a success which is why coach Dirk Koetter wanted to do the same again this year.
