Chicago Bears (0-1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
Chicago Bears (0-1) take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1). This matchup will take place at Raymond James Stadium and be broadcast live by FOX, hoping to sustain momentum or reverse fortunes respectively. Those seeking football picks today should find plenty of action and intrigue.
After suffering an unimpressive Week 1 loss, the Bears need an offensive spark. Khalil Herbert only managed 27 yards on 9 attempts while Justin Fields completed 24 of 37 passes successfully. Darnell Mooney showed promise by catching four Fields passes for 53 yards and scoring on one himself.
Tampa Bay claimed their opening victory of the season, yet there is room for improvement. Baker Mayfield completed 21 of 34 passes successfully while Rachaad White only managed 39 yards on 17 carries. Mike Evans stood out as their most prolific receiver with 6 receptions totaling 66 yards.
Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Info
| When: | Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Raymond James Stadium |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream | NFL Game Pass |
Justin Fields QB vs. Baker Mayfield QB
Justin Fields represents the future of a Chicago franchise searching for a leader at quarterback. In his most recent game, Fields showed his potential with 216 passing yards on a 64.9% completion rate showing off his mobility downfield but also some concerning stats like four sacks taken, which may indicate protection issues or holding onto the ball too long. Fields’ interception suggests decision-making issues under high-pressure conditions. While he did manage to throw for a touchdown, his passer rating of 78.2 indicates room for growth. Fields is a dynamic player who can also make plays with his legs; his team will look for him to avoid turnovers and take fewer sacks against Tampa Bay’s defense.
Baker Mayfield brings considerable experience and poise to the Tampa Bay quarterback position. In Week 1, Mayfield proved himself as an effective game manager by completing 61% of his passes for 173 yards while scoring two touchdowns without an interception for an excellent passer rating of 94.4; also notable was Mayfield’s ability to avoid being Sack’d–only once — which speaks volumes of both his decision-making ability as well as possibly reflecting positively upon his offensive line’s performance as well. Mayfield may have a more conservative 5.1 yards per pass attempt rate, yet his playing style emphasizes efficiency over flashy deep throws. That makes him different than Fields; Fields tends to look for home runs while Mayfield prefers hitting singles and doubles so long as it brings his team one step closer to victory.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -149, Total Odds: 41
Betting odds favor Tampa Bay with a spread of -2.5 and a Moneyline of -149. The over/under is set at 41 points, which is tricky given both teams have different trends concerning the total score.
Chicago has a history of poor performances, particularly on the road, while Tampa Bay fares well at home. Based on these factors, Tampa Bay appears to be the safer bet for the win with a predicted score of 27-20.
Chicago Bears Betting Trends
Chicago’s betting trends don’t bode well. Over their last nine games, they’ve gone 1-8 against the spread and are winless straight up in 10. Furthermore, Chicago has performed poorly when traveling as evidenced by 1-8 SU in their last nine road games and 3-9 when facing Tampa Bay away from home.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends
Tampa Bay’s betting trends are also varied. Although they have gone 9-3 SU in their last 12 home games against Chicago, they are only 2-7 against the spread in their last nine matches – although 11 of their 14 contests against opponents from National Football Conference went UNDER which could influence over/under bettors.
Chicago Bears vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9/17/23 Betting Picks
Given the performance of both quarterbacks and recent betting trends for each team, it appears as if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a better position to win this game. Their home advantage combined with Baker Mayfield’s steady quarterback play should give them the edge against an underachieving Chicago Bears squad. The top sports betting will provide bettors with quality wagers; given these factors alone, Tampa Bay appears to be a safer bet.
Free Pick and Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win 27-20
