Buccaneers at Cardinals: Preview, prediction, odds and pick
The Cardinals are falling behind in the NFC West, and they’ll need a big win over the Buccaneers on Sunday at home to bounce back in the division.
The NFC West started off as a relatively weak division in the 2017 season, but the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams have emerged over the last two weeks to help give the division a better reputation. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals are looking to join that conversation and will need a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to get there.
The Cardinals are currently 2-3 after going back and forth with wins and losses over the first five weeks of the season and are technically on pace for a win if we’re following the same trend after their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last week.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers are 2-2 at the moment and coming off a long week off after their Thursday Night Football battle with the New England Patriots in Week 5. The team had their kicking struggles get the best of them in the 19-14 loss at home, but looked solid defensively against Tom Brady and the Patriots offense.
Odds: Pick-em, according to Sportsbook Review
The two teams are both looking to bounce back from some bad losses. However, one team could see their season take a turn downhill to a point where they can’t return from in their respective divisions, and this game will loom large for both teams involved.
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The odds being at a pick-em make sense considering how equally talented these two teams are defensively, and how much potential each has on offense. However, I see the Buccaneers as the stronger team of the two, especially in a dome, and I don’t see them falling again after their defensive performance against the Patriots last week.
Prediction: Buccaneers 23, Cardinals 20