In just a matter of days, the Jags went from favorites vs. the Bucs to underdogs and it was likely due to some key injuries.
The Jacksonville Jaguars opened the week as 1.5-point favorites over the Tampa Bay Bucs, but that’s no longer the case. Per BetMGM, they are now 2.5-point underdogs for their upcoming in-state battle Week 13.
The Jags’ final injury report for Week 13 had multiple starters listed as questionable, including linebacker Myles Jack and corner Tre Herndon, who were ruled questionable while safety Ronnie Harrison was ruled out with a concussion. That’s not a good position to be in with the No. 4 ranked passing defense coming into town, especially when considering the Jags’ defense was struggling all around even when they were 100%. That said, their iffy status health-wise seemingly caught the eyes of oddsmakers.
The Jaguars went from being a -115 favorite on the money line to a +115 underdog in the category. The over/under for the game also decreased from 48.5 to 47.5.
Heading into Sunday’s game fans can honestly say the Jags have been difficult to gauge with a 5-6 record against the spread. They also are below .500 against the spread at home with a 2-3 record.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be returning home to take on the Tampa Bay Bucs after spending a month away from TIAA Bank Field. They’ll be looking to end a three-game skid against a group that has some momentum after the Bucs took it to the Atlanta …
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be returning home to take on the Tampa Bay Bucs after spending a month away from TIAA Bank Field. They’ll be looking to end a three-game skid against a group that has some momentum after the Bucs took it to the Atlanta Falcons Week 12.
Here are our predictions for Week 13 as fans will get to witness an in-state rivalry in North Florida:
Call it a gut feeling, but I believe both teams will score a lot of points. The Jags’ defense isn’t elite anymore and hasn’t been for a while. They also could be without starters Myles Jack and Tre Herndon against a very good Bucs passing unit to make matters worse. However, the Bucs’ defense is even worse (at least against the pass) making for the perfect situation for Nick Foles to find his groove. I believe the Jags will make one more key play than their in-state rivals a notch a win here.
Three straight division losses have seemingly sent the locker room and fanbase into an all-out frenzy. The Jaguars are a better team than the Bucs, they should win this game handily, however, they’ll find a way to make it much closer than it needs to be. As I mentioned last week, it’s in the team’s best interest to lose out, but they’ll trip into a win in front of an empty TIAA Bank Stadium with fans growing tired of the poor choices by the organization.
This game is literally the definition of a pick-em game. Both teams have fallen short of their expectations for the season. Both teams are also suffering from inconsistent quarterback play and that will likely be the theme of the day and the reason why the Jags win. Jameis Winston will throw a costly pick that leads to a field goal that seals it.
Confidence in the Jaguars has hit an all-time low. The team has lost three straight games by 20 or more points and have shown no signs of turning it around. Both sides of the balk are struggling, but with the turnover prone Tampa Bay Bucs coming to town, the team may be able to show signs of life. I think the Jags come away disappointed, but will manage to keep it close.
The Jags will have their hands completely full with a potential makeshift group in the front seven, who will have to guard both Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Jaguars will need to force Jameis Winston into a couple of turnovers to keep this game even. I predict that Nick Foles will struggle, which could lead to him getting benched in favor of Gardner Minshew II in this game.
The Bucs did a good job protecting Jameis Winston last week, but they’ll need another strong performance against the Jaguars.
One of the biggest stats that stood out from the Buccaneers’ 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons last week was the big zero next to sacks given up. The offensive line played arguably their best game of the season, keeping quarterback Jameis Winston upright and allowing him to carve up the Falcons defense following his two first-quarter interceptions.
This week’s game, however, presents a tougher challenge for the Bucs’ line as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense currently ranks tied for seventh in the league with 34 sacks.
And, even though Winston didn’t take a sack against Atlanta, he still entered Week 13 as the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL (36). Fortunately, he now sits in second after Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan upped his season total to 38 following a nine-sack game against the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving night.
Protecting Winston has always been an issue for this line, but if they want to win back-to-back games for the first time all season, they’ll need another top-notch performance to stop guys like Calais Campbell and Josh Allen. It’ll be the key to walking away with another win.
Easier said than done, of course. But, as Winston showed last week, if given time, he can make some big plays.
See who’s in and who’s out for Week 13’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
It’s a battle of 4-7 teams Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel north to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bucs are riding high off their win in Week 12 over the Atlanta Falcons, a game which head coach Bruce Arians called the team’s best complete game of the season. They’ll look to build off that momentum as they go up against a Jaguars team looking to redeem themselves after last week’s 42-20 thumping at the hands of the Tennessee Titans.
See who’s in and who’s out for Sunday’s game, courtesy of the final injury report for both teams.
Buccaneers
WR Scotty Miller (hamstring) – Did Not Participate – OUT
OLB Anthony Nelson (hamstring) – Did Not Participate – OUT
CB M.J. Stewart (knee) – Did Not Participate – OUT
OLB Carl Nassib (illness) – Did Not Participate – QUESTIONABLE
DL Beau Allen (neck) – Full Participation
CB Jamel Dean (shoulder) – Full Participation
T Demar Dotson (not injury related) – Full Participation
DL William Gholston (ankle) – Full Participation
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (knee) – Full Participation
OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee) – Full Participation
Jaguars
TE Seth DeValve (oblique) – Did Not Participate – OUT
S Ronnie Harrison (concussion) – Did Not Participate – OUT
CB Tre Herndon (shoulder) – Limited Participation – QUESTIONABLE
LB Myles Jack (knee) – Limited Participation – QUESTIONABLE
DE Josh Allen (knee) – Full Participation
DL Calais Campbell (back) – Full Participation
WR Chris Conley (hamstring) – Limited Participation
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks found a spot on a very exclusive list.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneer selected LSU linebacker Devin White with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, making him the first linebacker selected in the first round by the Bucs in over two decades.
The last linebacker they took in the first round? Just a guy named Derrick Brooks, who they took 28th overall in the 1995 draft.
White has a long way to go before he starts drawing comparisons to Brooks, whose Hall of Fame career included bringing a championship to Tampa Bay with a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Not surprisingly, Brooks was recently named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team, and he took a moment on Twitter to thank all his supporters.
I am so grateful to be named to this team!! Thanks go out to all my @Buccaneers teammates during my career and to my family for the support! https://t.co/6o34Ox5Vlu
The Jags seemingly will have some much-needed help at linebacker this Sunday after activating LB Jake Ryan prior to Week 13’s game.
Fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars had been heavily anticipating the debut of linebacker Jake Ryan and it appears they will finally have their wishes granted. The team announced that the veteran linebacker was activated from their reserve/non-football injury list Saturday, which should provide some much needed help to their struggling linebackers group.
To make room for his addition, the Jags waived running back and punt returner Tyler Ervin.
We have activated fifth-year LB @JakeRyan_47 from the reserve/non-football injury list to the 53–man roster and waived RB Tyler Ervin. pic.twitter.com/KTJaU8MZKN
Ryan, 27, signed with the Jags this offseason due to his relationship with defensive advisor Dom Capers back in Green Bay, who previously served as the Packers defensive coordinator. Ryan was drafted by Green Bay in the fourth-round of the 2015 draft (selection No. 129) and played for them until 2018. However, in July of last season, he tore his ACL and missed the whole 2018 season.
While with the Packers Ryan managed to accumulate 213 total tackles, a sack, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
After signing with the Jags this March, Ryan was expected to be available for the regular season but suffered a setback in August. After working hard on a return, he resumed practicing with the team after the bye week and it appears the coaching staff liked the strides he made.
Ryan’s signing could be a sign that starting MIKE linebacker Myles Jack will be unavailable Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs after surfacing on the final injury report as questionable with a knee injury. It remains to be seen what position Ryan will play but fans shouldn’t rule out him seeing snaps at MIKE linebacker where Jack has struggled even when healthy.
Our weekly NFL underdog betting staple continues into Week 13 where Ken Pomponio features three teams likely to upset their underdog odds
We’re past Thanksgiving, so the real NFL season is underway.
At least that’s how the saying goes.
In this space, we’re bringing a 21-15 overall record into the closing stretch after going 2-1 last week. I was on pair of underdogs who covered in straight-up losses (Colts +3.5 against the Texans and Cowboys +6.5 vs. the Patriots) and another (Packers +3.5 at the 49ers) that most definitely did not.
Now, with the trio of Turkey Day games already in the Week 13 books, we’ll have to come up with three underdogs from the rest the card, utilizing, as usual, Wednesday’s posted point spreads from BetMGM.com. Here goes …
Tennessee Titans (+2.5) at Indianapolis Colts
(Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports)
These two AFC South foes met back in Week 2, and the visiting Colts came away with a 19-17 road victory for their 19th win in the last 23 meetings with the Titans since the start of the 2008 season.
But it’s been the Titans who have since undergone the greatest transformation, winning four of five games since Ryan Tannehill replaced the scuffling Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback in Week 7. Tannehill has been much more than just a fill-in, throwing for 10 TDs and rushing for three more while throwing only four interceptions.
Indy, meanwhile, is trending in the opposite direction, having dropped three of four since Week 9 with QB Jacoby Brissett missing two of those losses with a knee injury.
Brissett has been back for the last two games, but two of his top weapons will missing Sunday as tight end Eric Ebron has been placed on injured reserve list and No. 1 wideout T.Y. Hilton is sidelined after suffering a setback with his nagging calf injury in practice this week.
That’s more than enough to tilt the balance in favor of the red-hot Tannehill and the Titans if you weren’t leaning in that direction already.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
(Photo Credit: Jason Getz – USA TODAY Sports)
This matchup of 4-7 Florida foes also is a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions of late as the Bucs have won two of their last three while the Jags have dropped three straight, losing by at least 20 each time.
Tampa quietly owns the league’s No. 3 scoring offense at 28.4 points per game, and only the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, with 3,788 in 12 games, has thrown for yards than the Bucs’ Jameis Winston (3,391 in 11). Winston also ranks fourth with 22 TD passes but, of course, the problem is interceptions as Winston has tossed 20 — six more than any other QB in the league.
Meanwhile, QB Nick Foles is back at the helm in J’ville, but he’s guided the Jags to only 33 points in his last two starts.
Foles has a capable sidekick in running back Leonard Fournette, but (again) the Bucs quietly own the league’s No. 2 defense against the run. Jacksonville doesn’t have cornerback Jalen Ramsey anymore to help deal with Tampa’s standout WR duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who have both already eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards on the season and have combined for 16 scoring receptions.
Look for the Bucs to prevail in a shootout.
Minnesota Vikings (+2.5) at Seattle Seahawks
(Photo Credit: David Berding – USA TODAY Sports)
It’s another intriguing Monday night matchup as the NFC’s two current wild-card front-runners put their superb records on the line.
Both teams feature QBs (Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins) playing at elite levels, and well-rounded, top-10 offenses going against shakier-than-most-expect defenses, particularly against the pass, so there should be some back-and-forth action on the scoreboard.
Despite their 9-2 record, though, the Seahawks are stunningly 0-5 ATS against the midweek lines at home this season while the 8-3 Vikings have covered and won in three of their last four road contests.
Take the Purple and the points.
Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is on pace to throw for close to 5,000 yards this season. But, is that enough to save his job?
When Bruce Arians was hired in the offseason to replace Dirk Koetter, who had been the only offensive coach Jameis Winston had ever played for in the NFL, everyone assumed that the former number one overall pick would put up big passing numbers, but what he’s been doing this season deserves some notice.
Winston currently ranks second in the NFL in passing yards, behind only Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, whose numbers already account for Thursday’s Thanksgiving loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Winston is projected to put up 4,932 passing yards this season, which would obliterate his previous season high of 4,090 yards (2016). It’s not a stretch to say he has a legitimate shot at throwing for 5,000.
Winston already has eight games this year with 300-plus passing yards, by far the most in his career. To put it another way, he’s only had three games this season where he hasn’t eclipsed the 300-yard mark.
Even more impressive? He’s had four games over 350 yards.
The issue, of course, has been the interceptions, of which Winston has 20, most in the NFL. In the four games where he threw for over 350 yards he had nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, so as great as the passing numbers are on paper, they haven’t translated into big wins.
But that right there might be why some would argue Winston deserves at least one more season in Tampa Bay. It’s his first time playing in a non-Koetter system, so there are sure to be bumps along the way. He can put up big passing numbers as well as any quarterback in the league. But, his turnovers have him looking like Jay Cutler 2.0 to some.
Ultimately, the franchise will likely rely on Arians to make the call about whether or not Winston can correct his mistakes and truly flourish in this offense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without three players on Sunday when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Scotty Miller, OLB Anthony Nelson and CB M.J. Stewart.
Nelson and Stewart were the only two Buccaneers ruled out for last week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, a game Tampa Bay won in dominating fashion, 35-22. Head coach Bruce Arians said it was the best complete game this squad has played all year.
Both the Bucs and Jags currently sit at 4-7, but the Buccaneers have momentum on their side after that big win over their division rival last week. Jacksonville, meanwhile, was run into the ground by the Tennessee Titans in Week 12, and have still not won a game since quarterback Nick Foles reclaimed the starting job from Gardner Minshew (0-2).
A win for the Bucs would give them their first back-to-back wins of the season and likely quell calls for Jameis Winston’s job, at least for another week.
The Jags may have to face the Bucs’ explosive passing attack down three players on the back seven.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could be without several members of their back seven Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs as multiple players from the group were on the final injury report. The most notable name on the list was starting MIKE LB Myles Jack (knee), who was ruled questionable alongside starting cornerback Tre Herndon (shoulder).
Both Jack and Herndon were limited Friday. However, Jack missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practice. If neither or just one player can go, the Jags could find themselves in a bad situation as the Bucs’ offense is ranked fourth in passing and third in points.
The Jags will also be without safety Ronnie Harrison Sunday after he sustained a concussion against the Tennessee Titans Week 12. He was in the process of bringing down Titans tight end MyCole Pruitt and incidentally collided with teammate Jarrod Wilson on the way down. As a result, he didn’t practice all week.
The last player listed on the injury report was tight end Seth DeValve (oblique), who has missed the Jags’ previous two games. Once again, he didn’t practice all week and fans will have to wait until next week for a possible return.
