The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers commence their preseasons Friday. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Steelers vs. Buccaneers odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.
The Buccaneers have been on a downward trend since winning Super Bowl LV, falling in the Divisional Round and the Wild Card round in the last 2 seasons. QB Tom Brady has retired, so the battle to be his successor between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask is what many fans are most intrigued about. Key players like LT Tristian Wirfs and WR Mike Evans are still with the club, but another year older and working with a different face under center.
Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback this season will be 2022 1st-round pick Kenny Pickett. Head coach Mike Tomlin extended his streak of winning seasons to 16, but the Steelers have still missed the playoffs in 3 of their last 5 seasons and were eliminated in the Wild Card round in the other two. Star RB Najee Harris appears likely to get some work in this battle as well. The Steelers also added key WR Allen Robinson in free agency and LT Broderick Jones with their 1st-round pick.
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Steelers at Buccaneers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 12:34 p.m. ET,
- Moneyline (ML): Steelers -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Buccaneers +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Against the spread (ATS): Steelers -2.5 (-110) | Buccaneers +2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 39.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Steelers at Buccaneers picks and predictions
Prediction
Steelers 20, Buccaneers 17
Moneyline
PASS.
The Steelers (-145) are just a touch too expensive to play on the moneyline, especially in a preseason game. They do have the more experienced quarterbacks which should captain their offense for much of the game.
The Buccaneers’ quarterbacks haven’t been impressive at camp. Mayfield will start Friday, and we can expect a well-coached Steelers defense to get the best of them. However, look to the spread for a better value.
Against the spread
BET STEELERS -2.5 (-110).
QB Mason Rudolph is third-string for Pittsburgh, and he should show more competence than Tampa’s third-string quarterback, John Wolford.
The depth of playmakers that Pittsburgh has is also notable with rookie TE Darnell Washington and Jones. Tomlin is the better coach, and Pittsburgh has more talent deep into its roster.
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Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 39.5 (-110).
Neither team has quarterbacks that have shown much competence either throughout their career or in camp. Many of the Steelers’ top-end playmakers like WR George Pickens are expected to see limited drives in the first game.
However, the Steelers’ 2nd-string defenders, like camp standout CB Joey Porter Jr., could see snaps. Trask and Mayfield aren’t an impressive duo and should struggle to move the ball.
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