The two biggest underdogs per the NFL betting odds this week are the two New York teams. The Jets are likely the biggest underdog of 2020 as they are getting 19 points on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the only other double-digit underdog in Week 8 is the Giants. Tampa Bay is laying 11 points on the road against Big Blue, and many are calling for the Buccaneers to get the cover. Four of Tampa Bay’s five victories have come by at least 14 points this season, and the Bucs crushed Green Bay and Las Vegas over the last two weeks.
NFL Odds at Bookmaker.eu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -11
New York Giants +11
Total 46
Tom Brady is the best quarterback to ever play the game, and he is in the process of answering a decades-old question too. New England fans have wondered aloud whether Brady or Bill Belichick was more important to the team’s success, and TB12 is tipping the scales in his favor with his play in Tampa Bay.
Brady didn’t get off to a good start this season as he didn’t have much time to work with his new teammates, but he has been great over the last five weeks. He has thrown 15 touchdowns and one interception, leading Tampa Bay to 38 points or more in three of those games.
Scottie Miller has emerged as Brady’s receiver instead of Mike Evans or Chris Godwin. Part of that is due to injury as Godwin will once again miss a game this week, but he has established a decent rapport with Miller too. Miller has 22 receptions for 365 yards on the year, and he leads Tampa Bay with a 16.6 YPC average.
Ronald Jones II and Leonard Fournette are both running well, and Rob Gronkowski has been a bigger factor in this offense over the last few weeks. Gronk has five catches and a touchdown in each of the last two weeks, so Brady will likely look for him in the red zone once more on Monday night.
The Giants don’t have a good defense, but they have a decent defensive line. Dexter Lawrence is a bright young talent, and Dalvin Tomlinson and Leonard Williams do a good job covering their gaps. The secondary is not good though, as Big Blue ranks 27th in pass defense per DVOA.
Daniel Jones is the leading rusher on the Giants, and that’s an indication of just how bad this team has been at moving the ball. Jones is a very good runner, but Devonta Freeman is averaging just 3.2 YPC since taking over for the injured Saquon Barkley.
Jones has not been good in the passing game. He has completed just 61.9 percent of his passes for 6.1 YPA, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. The Duke product has regressed after a promising rookie season, but at least the Giants have a nice option in Darius Slayton. Slayton has been well worth a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft, leading the team with 27 receptions for 429 yards and three touchdowns. He is the only player on the Giants averaging more than 10.0 YPC that has received at least 10 targets.
Tampa Bay has the best defense in the league per DVOA. The Buccaneers have been fantastic at stopping the run even without Vita Vea, but the big surprise has been the secondary. Rookie Antoine Winfield Jr. is looking to be a diamond in the rough, and the corners are playing great.
Prediction
It’s going to be another long day for Jones on Monday night. The Giants just don’t have the weapons, and to make matters worse, we know at least one of their offensive linemen tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.
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