Eagles vs. Bucs Total Prediction
The Tampa Bay Bucs lit up the Saints last Sunday in New Orleans but can they find that same offensive magic on Sunday when they host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at 1:00 p.m. ET?
Game Snapshot
275 Philadelphia Eagles at 276 Tampa Bay Bucs
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 16
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Eagles are 3-point favorites to beat the Bucs. The total, meanwhile, sits at 44 points. As of this writing, 69% of the public betting tickets are on the Eagles to cover the point spread.
Philadelphia Eagles
Coach Doug Pederson confirmed Nick Foles will start Week 2 against the Bucs. Not a surprise at all, as Carson Wentz (knee) still has yet to be cleared for contact. Foles was dreadful in the opener, going 19-of-34 for a measly 117 yards and an interceptions, but the Eagles still escaped with a win. This is a good on-paper matchup, but Foles can’t be trusted as more than a QB2.
Tampa Bay Bucs
DeSean Jackson (concussion, shoulder) returned to Bucs practice Thursday, getting in a limited session. This was the expectation after D-Jax was spotted with a helmet during the portion of Bucs practice open to the media. D-Jax returning to split snaps and targets with Chris Godwin against the Eagles’ stout defense would significantly lower both players’ floor and ceiling. D-Jax should be treated as a high-risk WR4 if he plays.
NFL Betting Trends
Philadelphia
The over is 17-4 in the Eagles’ last 21 road games.
Tampa Bay
The under is 5-1 in the Bucs’ last six home games.
Prediction
The Eagles held the Falcons to just 4.6 yards per play last Thursday so the Bucs are likely to come crashing back to earth one week after they did whatever they wanted offensively to the Saints’ defense. The Eagles also struggled with Foles under center and looked nothing like the offense that won the Super Bowl a year ago. With the Bucs facing a massive regression and the Eagles slow offensively out of the gate, I like the under here.
NFL Week 2 Prediction: Eagles/Bucs under 44