It’s difficult to find words for Tom Brady anymore. We’re all running out of superlatives. Here he is again, in the playoffs, coming in as a division champion. Of course, with a roster around him that has some impeccable talent, the glory is not all his. The Eagles come into Tampa Bay as the obvious underdog, but a hungry one. Let’s take a look at the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFL odds, and make a pick and prediction.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers odds, prediction
- Spread: Bucs -8.5 (Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Moneyline: Bucs – 410, Eagles +310
- Over/Under: 46
Eagles will have to snap streak against playoff teams to progress
You would not have put the Eagles in the playoffs at the midseason mark. They were 3-6 after nine weeks, but turned it around in the second half of the season, winning six of their last eight games.
We have to give credit when it is absolutely due. First-year head coach Nick Sirianni has implemented his system, and things are certainly piecing together for Philadelphia. The unique run threat that comes in the form of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles running backs has caused headaches for defenses across the league.
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Hurts finished the year with 784 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the ground. That’s a respectable season for a starting RB in this league. Through the air, he added 3,144 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns.
Down the stretch, the Eagles did win six games to cement themselves a spot in the playoffs. However, not one of those teams they beat in that eight-game stretch is a fellow playoff team. In fact, Philadelphia has not beaten a playoff team all season. The Eagles were 0-6 this season against other playoff teams, including the Bucs.
Brady and the Bucs running it back?
We all know better by now than to say anything at all that might sound like we’re betting against Brady winning Super Bowls. Despite the fact that he’s now 44 years old, he led the league in passing yards this year and touchdowns. Brady threw for over 5,000 yards in the regular season for only the second time in his career, and his 43 touchdowns marked his second-highest regular-season total.
The Bucs have faced a little adversity in recent weeks, though. The loss of Chris Godwin is a big one for this offense, and they’ll miss his safe hands and keen contribution. Of course, we then have the Antonio Brown situation. Nevertheless, the Bucs will be encouraged to have Leonard Fournette back after an injury scare in the same game they lost Godwin. Additionally, on defense, Lavonte David is back at practice, another huge boost ahead of the playoffs.
Eagles vs. Buccaneers betting trends
The Eagles have won four of their last five, which includes cashing the over in four of those as well. Of course, Philly gave up 51 points to the Cowboys in Week 18, but that game was a rest stop for both sides — before the real competition begins on Wild Card Weekend.
As for the Bucs, despite a dominant season, they’re hard to predict with spreads and over/unders this year. They finished 9-8 in both categories, and in their last four games, have cashed two overs and two under. Likewise, they’ve had two spread wins and two spread losses in those games.
When these two sides faced each other in Week 6, the Bucs won 28-22. The spread was Bucs -7, so the Eagles won that margin, and the game cashed the under; 50 points were scored against an over/under of 53.
Eagles vs. Buccaneers prediction
Tampa Bay will of course not take the Eagles lightly, despite their low seed and deceiving record. Instead, I am expecting a clinical performance from Brady and the offense, allowing them to grow in confidence for the Divisional Round.
I like the Eagles story, and who doesn’t like Hurts as a person? I just think this is a step out of their range, and they’ve almost made it before they’re ready. A fun team to keep an eye on in the coming years, but they’re no match for Brady and the Bucs right now.
Eagles vs. Buccaneers Prediction: Buccaneers 40, Eagles 17