Are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for real? Just when we started to count them out of the playoff race, they get pulled back into it with a couple of victories. The Bucs knocked off AFC power Kansas City on the road Sunday to get to .500 and within a game of the Falcons in the NFC South. Now they get another test against the juggernaut Seattle Seahawks in a Week 12 contest. Winning at home would help the Bucs’ cause, beating the Seahawks would be an even bigger help.
Watch this regular season Week 12 matchup live on Sunday, November 27, 2016, at 4:05 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Seattle Seahawks -4.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +4.5
Over/Under 45
Odds Analysis
The Seahawks are getting over 80 percent of the early spread wagers so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the line move a bit higher than the opening of -4.5. Seattle does have to make another cross country trip, but the travel hasn’t affected them too much with a win in New England sandwiched by home wins over Buffalo and Philadelphia in the past three weeks. The Bucs ended their recent home struggles by beating the Bears in Week 10 for their first SU and ATS win at Raymond James this season.
Injury Report
C.J. Prosise – The rookie back had given the Seahawks’ woeful running game a huge boost over the past few games, but he suffered a shoulder injury Sunday and Pete Carroll said Prosise will be “out for a while.” Prosise had a 72-yard touchdown run against the Eagles and gave the offense a different look with his versatility.
Brent Grimes – The Bucs could be without their starting cornerback after Grimes exited the last game with a leg injury. The defense stepped up without him in a win over the Chiefs, but it will be a different story against the Seahawks, who are averaging 305 passing yards per game over the last two contests.
Player to Watch
Carroll likes balance in his offensive attack and the Seahawks have been desperately missing that for most of the year. Thomas Rawls went down with a leg injury early in the year, Russell Wilson had limited mobility while dealing with a variety of ailments and the run game failed to produce with Christine Michael in the lineup. Carroll turned to Prosise a few games ago and the rookie provided a spark. Seattle also got Rawls back on Sunday for the first time since Week 2 and the run game produced a season-high 152 yards.
But all wasn’t rosy for the Seahawks as Prosise went down with a shoulder injury in the Eagles game, leaving the chore of toting the rock in the hands of Rawls. The second-year back should be fresh after recovering from his leg injury. In his first action since Week 2, Rawls chiseled off the rust by running for 57 yards on 14 carries. The run game opens up Seattle’s offense and makes Wilson more dangerous, so Rawls becomes an important piece with rookie Alex Collins expected to be his backup.
Free ATS Pick
The Bucs turned in one of their best defensive efforts of the season in their win over the Chiefs and have apparently fixed the problems that had them dropping from the ranks of playoff contenders just a few weeks ago. It also helped that they played a couple of teams in the Bears and Chiefs who aren’t the most explosive, but they did what they had to and have put themselves in a good position to make a postseason charge. But their inconsistent play on both sides of the ball is troublesome and the Seahawks are one team that thrives on opponents’ mistakes.
Seattle has the offensive weapons to give the Bucs problems and if Rawls delivers in the run game, the Seahawks shouldn’t have a problem moving the football. With their defense playing at a high level and Michael Bennett possibly back on the line, Jameis Winston will have his hands full, and when he’s pressured the mistakes follow. The Bucs are playing with confidence, but the Seahawks are the better team.
NFL Odds: Seahawks 24, Buccaneers 13
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