Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8/23/24 – After going 2-0 during the NFL preseason Week 2, the Miami Dolphins will face a winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers that has not yet made it out of their blocks with an 0-2 record. This is a critical Week 3 match-up for roster finalizations as it takes place on Friday at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida at 7:30 PM ET. The game provides intriguing information about the teams’ fitness for the league and will be very important to anyone making free football picks.
Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8/23/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Friday, August 23, 2024, at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Raymond James Stadium |
| TV: | NFLN |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Miami Dolphins (2-0 Preseason) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2 Preseason)
The Miami Dolphins look promising in the preseason, especially in their rushing and receiving units. Chris Brooks, a runner, has been an outstanding performer with an average of 6.1 yards per carry and 103 rushing yards in two games. This dynamic running game could be critical against a Buccaneers defense adjusting to new schemes. Erik Ezukanma, a wide receiver also had quite an impact scoring 65 receiving yards out of his 5 receptions which came from one appearance this pre-season. His ability to make plays after the catch could be pivotal in exploiting the Buccaneers’ secondary, which resembles challenges seen in the Panthers – Bills encounter.
On the contrary, Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking up to bouncing back after suffering two losses. Quarterback Kyle Trask has completed his passes at a rate of 61.5% for 252 yards showing that he knows how to play pass very well but needs to work on converting the drives into points more often. Sean Tucker, who averages 7.1 yards per run, is a dangerous threat that can change the focus of defenders thus allowing more room for receivers of Buccaneers. This strategy might mirror tactics in the Rams and Houston Texans faceoff, focusing on exploiting mismatches in the opposing defense.
Skylar Thompson QB vs. Kyle Trask QB
Skylar Thompson has shown flashes of potential in his performance, the fact that he only managed to complete 47.1% of his throws and scored just one touchdown, suggests there is a lot of work that needs to be done. However, if he wants to improve on these numbers it would be wise to work on his deep ball accuracy.
The Bucs have been impressed with Kyle Trask’s improvement as well as confidence in the pocket after having a good rate of completion and a better understanding of the team system this time around. He has demonstrated an ability to spread the ball around well among different receivers, which indicates potential for growth.
Which quarterback will handle pressure better and make those game altering throws will largely determine who triumphs when these two signal callers face each other on Sunday. Both men will however need to exploit their strengths—Thompson’s mobility and Trask’s accuracy—to change the course of the game.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Miami Dolphins -2.5 -105, Total Odds: 34.5
The betting odds slightly favor the Miami Dolphins, reflecting their unbeaten streak in the preseason. However, the close spread indicates that the Buccaneers are not far behind in terms of capability and potential to secure a win. Given the trends and performances, bettors should consider the underdog potential in this matchup.
Miami Dolphins Betting Trends
The Dolphins have struggled against the spread in recent meetings with the Buccaneers, going 3-10 ATS in their last 13 encounters. This trend suggests a cautionary approach when considering backing Miami with the points. However, their strong performance in terms of game outcomes (13-7 SU in their last 20 games) provides a somewhat reassuring aspect for straight win bettors.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends
The Buccaneers have been a more reliable bet against the spread, going 10-5 ATS in their last 15 games. This statistic, combined with their home game advantage where the total has gone UNDER in 7 of their last 8 games, could be pivotal for those looking at the points total in this matchup.
Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8/23/24 Betting Picks
To consider all the statistics and betting trends, the Buccaneers might be a safer ATS bet based on their consistent coverage of the spread, particularly when playing at home. The Dolphins have done well in SU terms except that their ATS record against Tampa Bay is less impressive. For total points, this could be a wise path to choose as both defenses are going to tighten up before the regular season.
For those who would wish to place prop bets, looking at individual player performance markets such as rushing yards for Chris Brooks or passing yards for Kyle Trask can also offer some values. This game has been low scoring as depicted by recents team unders; hence UNDER may be profitable and it agrees with what Top Multi-Handicapper picks indicate.