A battle between the top two picks in the 2015 NFL Draft makes this game intriguing to fans and bettors. Marcus Mariota got the best of Jameis Winston in the 2015 Rose Bowl, but Winston one-upped him being the first player taken in the draft. If not for this storyline few would care.
Both quarterbacks have a lot of work ahead of them with rebuilding teams and one will get half way to its win total from a season ago.
ODDS
Tampa Bay got the standard field goal for homefield advantage, opening at -3. There’s been no movement on the line since it went on the board. With both rookie quarterbacks getting ready to make their first start, the total surfaced at 42.
KEY INJURIES
Jason McCourty – Titans starting corner is out after having his groin repaired. Look for either Coty Sensabaugh or Blidi Wreh-Wilson to take his spot.
Sammie Hill – Another defensive starter is out for Tennessee resting a bum knee. Al Woods will replace Hill as the starter.
Mike Evans – Tampa Bay’s leader in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2014 sat out practice with a hamstring injury and is questionable for this Sunday.
KEY MISMATCH
Winston has the luxury of a pair of 1,000-yard receivers at his disposal, giving the Bucs an edge offensively over the Titans. Second-year pro Evans is a superstar in the making after 68 catches for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Veteran Vincent Jackson is still productive and they give Winston a pair of 6-foot-5 targets. Jackson had 1,002 yards on 70 catches, but only two went for scores. Tampa Bay surely isn’t paying Jackson a hefty sum to watch Evans carry the offense, so expect the 32-year-old to be a major part of coordinator Dirk Koetter’s game plan. With Winston now tossing the ball, Jackson is a sure bet to see a boost in touchdown grabs. The Bucs will also be facing a defense without two key starters in McCourty and Hill.
KEY STAT
27.3 – The Titans were 29th in the league in points allowed last season. The glaring need was on the defensive side of the ball and Tennessee used the No. 2 pick in the draft to grab Mariota. With a more balanced offensive attack this season, the Bucs will be able to put up points on a unit that is without two starters.
BETTING ANGLE
The Titans spent months being ridiculed as possibly the NFL’s worst team, compounding the pain of the franchise’s poorest season since it was called the Houston Oilers. Now they’ll find out just how motivating a 2-14 record can be. “That’s just one thing here that nobody wants to experience, ever again,” safety Michael Griffin said. The biggest benefit of a season that ended with 10 straight losses was the No. 2 overall draft pick and the Titans believe they found their franchise quarterback in Mariota. A revamped roster to better suit coach Ken Whisenhunt’s style means eight starters with two or fewer years of NFL experience. The Titans feel they have their man to settle down a position where eight quarterbacks started and nine played since trading Steve McNair in 2006.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
This game is obviously being hyped as the battle of the top two picks in the draft. If it wasn’t I don’t think too many outside of the competing fan bases would care. And while both Mariota and Winston should make their teams better, it’s still an uphill battle. Mariota simply doesn’t have the same level of talent around him to keep the Titans competitive. Not that Tampa Bay will compete for the NFC South title in Winston’s rookie year, but there is a buzz around him that led many scouts to grade him as the best college player available. While the Bucs get the standard field goal edge playing at home, they should probably be bigger favorites.
Tampa Bay 26, Tennessee 18
BookMaker opened the spread for this Sunday game at -3 in favor of the Buccaneers. The NFL odds total surfaced at 42. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
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! The game between the Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will start at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 13, 2015, at Raymond James Stadium. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
