Bengals vs. Buccaneers: NFL preseason betting odds, preview, and pick
WR Mike Evans (13) of the Bucs makes a catch and turns to make a couple more yards. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
August 13th, 2021
The defending Super Bowl champs will kick off their preseason on Saturday evening when the Buccaneers host the Bengals in Tampa Bay. Although the game is scheduled for a primetime start at 7:30 ET, it might see the game time moved up due to Tropical Storm Fred.
Let’s break down the game.
Is Burrow Back?
After suffering a brutal knee injury midway through the 2020 season, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was forced to miss the remainder of the season and begin work rehabbing his ACL and MCL. It was a disheartening setback for the rookie former Heisman Trophy winner, but fortunately in today’s age it was an injury that players are able to come back from.
This is Joe Burrow after practice today.
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) August 6, 2021
Spent an extra 15 minutes or so throwing.
Trust the process. #Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/rar9YCpXMQ
Burrow claims that he is back physically, and indeed, he is back leading the offense in practice with all signs pointing to a full recovery and a return to his starting role. For this preseason game, however, he has already been ruled as a healthy scratch and so we will have to wait to see him until the second or third preseason game. The Bengals finished the 2020 season just 2-5 playing without Burrow.
Bengals vs. Buccaneers Injury Report
| Cincinnati Bengals | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|---|
Trey Hendrickson: Questionable (groin) | O.J. Howard: Questionable (Achilles) |
Trae Waynes: Questionable (hamstring) | Cyril Grayson: Questionable (undisclosed) |
Hakeem Adeniji: Out (pectoral) | Cam Gill: Questionable (undisclosed) |
Drue Chrisman: Out (hand) | John Franklin: Out (knee) |
Bengals and Bucs Trends
- The Bengals are 0-5 ATS in their last five games against the Bucs
- The Bengals are 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight games played on a Saturday
- The Under is 12-5-2 in Bengals last 19 road games
- The Bucs are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games
- The Under is 5-2 ATS in the Bucs last seven home games
- The Under is 5-0 ATS last five games with Bengals traveling to Tampa
- The Bucs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against AFC opponents
Tampa Bay's depth will make the difference
Burrow is out, and we can assume that veteran Tom Brady won’t be playing more than a few snaps, if at all. Neither team has a reason in the first preseason game to give starters significant minutes, but the depth on Tampa Bay makes the Bucs deserving favorites in this matchup. With injuries being a relatively insignificant variable early on in the season, depth and quality of backups is truly the decisive factor.
Video: Tom Brady likes what he’s seen from Bucs rookie quarterback Kyle Trask, putting extra time in to learn the game. pic.twitter.com/M1HsEQyQNu
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 12, 2021
The Bucs have a number of offensive weapons that will be effectively trying out for their roster spots, including young players like fourth-string QB Kyle Trask and WR Tyler Johnson. Look for Tampa Bay's significantly deeper roster to cruise to an easy, breezy win.
Score prediction: Buccaneers 20, Bengals 10
NFL Preseason Pick: Buccaneers -5.5
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