.jpg "Buccaneers-at-Cardinals-(FOX)")
The Buccaneers may only a half-game advantage on the Cardinals in the standings but have looked much better. Arizona’s two victories have come in overtime and its minus-44 point-differential is the second-worst in the NFL behind only the Indianapolis Colts.
The Cardinals’ offense is struggling, but the Bucs’ offensive attack didn’t look too hot either last time out so this one could be a defensive battle.
This contest in Week 6 of the regular season will go down Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 4:05 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Opening NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5
Arizona Cardinals +2.5
Over/Under 44.5
Odds Analysis
The Cardinals have yet to cover the spread in five games this year and bettors know that, as more than 86 percent of the action is on Tampa Bay even though it is a road favorite. The scoring total is low based on the Cardinals’ inability to score, but the bettors think it is too low as more than 83 percent of the money has jumped on the “over.”
Injury Report
Kwon Alexander — The Buccaneers’ middle linebacker missed his third straight game Sunday with a hamstring injury. Alexander had one tackle, a defended pass and an interception in his only game this season and is a key piece.
Lavonte David — Tampa Bay’s outside linebacker was sidelined for a second straight game after spraining his ankle against the Vikings on September 24th. The Buccaneers want to dominate on defense, and having one or both of their linebackers in the lineup would be a boost.
D.J. Humphries -- The Cardinals’ starting left tackle has been out of the lineup since he sprained his knee in the season opener against the Lions. Arizona has dealt with a lot of injuries on their offensive line, and Humphries absence has been large. He could be back for this one.
Robert Nkemdiche -- The Cardinals’ 2016 first-round pick has yet to make a big impact in the NFL. He is dealing with a calf strain and would be a nice addition since he is one of the few players on the team capable of getting interior pressure. However, it’s unknown if he will be available.
Key Stat
19. That’s how many times Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has been sacked this season, which is the most in the NFL. The team has played the past several weeks without either starter on the left side of the line.
Even the healthy offensive linemen have failed to keep Palmer protected. To make matters worse, the team is only averaging 2.6 yards per carry, which is the worst by a wide margin in the NFL. The Cardinals’ ground game is struggling as the offensive linemen aren’t creating hole and the team is without injured star tailback David Johnson.
Free ATS Pick
The Cardinals have played poorly throughout this season and were embarrassed last week in Philadelphia. They should play better in this one. Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has looked shaky at times this year. Look for a great bounceback performance from the Cardinals defense to help pull the upset in this one.
Tampa Bay isn’t as good as some believe, and that will be apparent in this one. The line is too high for a mediocre team on the road, so backing the Cardinals is the prudent choice. The “under” is the right call as this one will be a defensive battle.
NFL Odds: Cardinals 20, Buccaneers 17
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
