NFL picks: The Buffalo Bills have played like a distracted team so far this preseason as their ownership issues have been the main topic in the headlines as fans are hopeful that the team will remain in Western New York instead of moving north of the border. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing very much like the team in transition that they are with new head coach Lovie Smith installing his systems. The Buffalo Bills will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at Ralph Wilson Stadium with coverage on NFL Network starting at 4:30 PM ET. BetDSI opened with the Bills as a three point favorite and with a total of 41.5.
No Bucs for Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-2 both straight up and against the spread in preseason play so far this year as both of their games also went under the total. Tampa Bay is coming off a 20-14 home loss to the Miami Dolphins as 2.5 point favorites as the game stayed under the total of 38.5. The Bucs ranked 30th overall in the NFL preseason for total offense as well as for points scored. Josh McCown was brought in by Smith take over at QB but last year’s starter Mike Glennon has outplayed him with an 87.7 QB rating compared to McCown/s 72.5 QB rating. The Bucs defense ranks in the middle of the pack so far in preseason.
Not Paying the Bills
The Bills are 1-2 both straight up and against the spread with two out of their three preseason games going under the total. Buffalo is coming off a 19-16 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers as one point dogs with the game going under the total of 41. The Bills have also struggled on offense in preseason with a ranking of 22nd overall and 26th for scoring. The QB position has been particularly ineffective with starter EJ Manuel at a 66.2 QB rating while Jeff Tuel was at 72.8 and Thaddeus Lewis at 41.0. The defense has been respectable so far this preseason and ranked 11th overall.
Our Pick
This is the Bills first home preseason game and the matchup of their defense against the Bucs struggling offense is favorable. We like Buffalo and this game to go under the total.
