Buccaneers vs. Browns Prediction: Don't Doubt Brady & Bucs
By Josh Yourish
Just one more week until Deshaun Watson returns for the Cleveland Browns, but before he can come back and try to save this 3-7 team, they will have to get through Tom Brady and the 5-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa got a 21-16 win over the Seahawks in Germany two weeks ago and then got their much needed bye in Week 11. Between his very public divorce and FTX going up in flames, I’m sure Brady had a very relaxing thanksgiving and will come back as refreshed as ever.
Despite it all, Brady and the Bucs are favorites in Cleveland and might be ready to make a run in the wide open NFC, so let’s check out the odds for this one.
Buccaneers vs. Browns Odds, Spread and Total
Buccaneers vs. Browns Odds, Spread and Total Movement in NFL Week 12
The Bucs opened at -3 and are now 3.5 point favorites on the road. The total has had more movement, from 45.5 to 42.5 points.
Buccaneers vs. Browns Prediction and Pick
The Buffalo Bills are not exactly a team that is known for stopping the run and yet last week, in Detroit, they held the Browns to 80 yards on the ground and Nick Chubb to 19 yards on 14 carries. It was an amazing performance defensively and put a lot on Jacoby Brissett’s shoulders. Brissett threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Browns to 23 points, but they did lose 31-23.
The Browns run game is fifth best in the league, but if the Bills can shut them down, then Tampa Bay should find success stopping Chubb too. My bigger concerns are with the Buccaneers offense. They are scoring 18.3 points per game and only running for 70.7 yards each game. That is the worst in the league, but they got Rachaad White going in Germany, he ran for 105 yards on 22 carries. Now, they are going against the Browns, who have an abysmal run defense. They allow 4.8 yards a carry and have given up 16 rushing touchdowns.
Brady and the offense looked like they took a step in the right direction with 21 points in Germany and I think they will finally break out coming off the bye week. Maybe I’m dumb for still believing in the Bucs, but I think they will go on a run here and be a threat in the playoffs.
Pick: Buccaneers -3 (-115)
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change