Tennessee Titans (3-5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11/12/23 – As the NFL season approaches its halfway mark, attention invariably shifts toward playoff prospects. However, for the Tennessee Titans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both teams holding an identical 3-5 record, the Week 10 encounter at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. The implications of this game extend beyond the pursuit of a playoff berth; they also have a bearing on early speculations regarding NFL draft predictions as each franchise seeks to strengthen its roster for the ensuing seasons.
The Titans have distinguished themselves with a potent ground game spearheaded by Derrick Henry. Henry’s tally of 601 rushing yards across eight appearances underscores his pivotal role in the Titans’ offensive strategy, with his propensity for shedding tackles and accruing additional yardage post-contact posing a consistent challenge for opposing defenses. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has reaffirmed his status as one of the league’s eminent talents, accumulating 564 receiving yards and significantly stretching defenses with his remarkable yards-per-catch metric.
In stark contrast, the offensive scheme of the Buccaneers has been characterized by its reliance on the aerial capabilities of quarterback Baker Mayfield. Compelled to counterbalance a faltering rushing offense led by Rachaad White, whose average of 3.3 yards per carry indicates a lack of breakaway rushes, Mayfield has accrued 1600 passing yards. Despite the ground game’s lackluster performance, wide receiver Mike Evans has excelled as a downfield threat, amassing 507 receiving yards and securing 5 touchdowns, thereby affirming his position as a premier receiver.
Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11/12/23 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Raymond James Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Ryan Tannehill QB vs. Baker Mayfield QB
Ryan Tannehill‘s journey this season as Titans quarterback is one of resilience against adversity. With their record sitting at 3-5, much scrutiny has been directed at Tannehill; his completion percentage of 62% may indicate his proficiency but his passer rating of 71.9 indicates difficulty turning plays into scoring opportunities and turnovers have become an increasing problem he must contend with.
Baker Mayfield is making waves during his inaugural season as Buccaneer quarterback, boasting an impressive 64.2 completion percentage and 89.5 passer rating that outpace Tannehill’s current season figures, suggesting more efficient but not necessarily more effective command of the offense. Mayfield has scored 10 touchdowns despite only leading the Bucs to 3-5 record; individual stats only reveal half of Mayfield’s story as consistency has eluded him; although he has displayed glimpses of talent which once made him the number-one draft pick but hasn’t managed to sustain such high performance consistently across consecutive games.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -120, Total Odds: 38.5
With both teams struggling to eclipse the .500 mark, the Buccaneers are slight favorites in the betting markets, likely due to their home-field advantage. A narrow point spread of -0.5 for the Buccaneers indicates expectations of a close contest. The total, set at a modest 38.5, suggests that sportsbooks anticipate a defensive battle or continued offensive inefficiencies.
Tennessee Titans Betting Trends
The Titans’ recent history against the spread (ATS) does not inspire confidence, with a 2-4 record in their last 6 games. However, their ability to keep scores low, contributing to the UNDER in 5 of their last 6 games, indicates a strong defense or a lack of offensive firepower. While their overall season record is unimpressive, their dominance over Tampa Bay in past meetings, with an 8-1 SU record, cannot be ignored.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends
Tampa Bay’s betting trends tell a story of recent disappointments, particularly their 1-5 SU record in their last 6 games. Their inability to secure wins against AFC opponents stands out, as they’re 0-7 SU in their last 7 against such teams. The trend toward the UNDER in home games suggests that the Buccaneers’ defense does show up at Raymond James Stadium, or the offense fails to capitalize on familiar turf.
Tennessee Titans vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11/12/23 Betting Picks
Delving into the matchup, the Titans’ rushing attack led by Henry against the Buccaneers’ pass-centric offense sets the stage for a classic ground-and-pound versus air-raid clash. Given the trends and the defensive strengths of both teams, the UNDER on the total seems like a strong play, especially considering both offenses have had trouble finding consistency.
From a pick perspective, the Titans’ historical advantage over Tampa Bay and their strong ATS performance in this matchup are hard to overlook. Despite their struggles this season, Tennessee might be the better play here, given their propensity to keep games close and their outright dominance over the Buccaneers in previous encounters. Sports analysts’ tips often favor historical matchups and trends, which in this case, lean towards the Titans.
Free Pick and Prediction: Tennessee Titans 20, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17