Football Betting – Buccaneers vs Cardinals

The NFL’s most surprising team will once again take the field as an underdog in this weekend’s Football Betting action. Can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pull off another upset to improve to 5-2 on the year?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS) at Arizona Cardinals (3-3 SU, 2-4 ATS)

Sunday, October 31: 4:15 p.m. Live from University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

Football Betting Odds:

Tampa Bay: +3
Arizona: -3
Total: 39

Looking at the stats, there really are no reasonable, logical explanations for the Buccaneers surprising run to prominence. Tampa Bay ranks 30th out of 32 NFL teams in scoring offense, averaging just 16.3 points per game. They are also being outscored by the opposition by an average of five points per game. Yet somehow the Buccaneers are 4-2 right now. How that’s possible, no one knows.

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The leader of this surprising team of course is quarterback Josh Freeman, and like his team, his stats don’t indicate he’s doing anything special, yet he is. On the season, Freeman is completing just 58 percent of his passes, and has thrown just seven touchdowns in six games. Running the ball Tampa Bay isn’t much better, as Tampa Bay is averaging just 96 yards on the ground per game. Eventually their offensive ineptitude has to catch up with them right?

Either way, the team looking to take advantage of Tampa Bay in this weekend’s Football Betting action is the Arizona Cardinals. But down one quarterback, it won’t be easy.

That’s because coming into this one, Arizona will have to play without last week’s starter Max Hall, who left Sunday’s game with a concussion and will sit out this weekend against Tampa Bay.

Which means their original starter- Derek Anderson- will get the call, and that can’t make Cardinals fans happy. On the year, Anderson is completing an embarrassing 51 percent of his passes, and has thrown just three touchdowns and five interceptions. In replacing Hall last weekend Anderson didn’t look any better than he did early in the year, as he completed just eight of 17 passes.

With both teams struggling offensively, what this game comes down to intangibles, things that can’t be found in the box score. And because of it, the edge goes to Tampa Bay. Make them your Football Betting pick this weekend.

Again, Tampa Bay defies logic. They rank in the bottom half of the NFL in rushing and passing and as was mentioned, are scoring just 16 points per game. In other words, not only are they not moving the ball, they’re not scoring much either. But they are still winning, which is a credit to Raheem Morris, and this defense.

Speaking of this defense, they may hold the key to this game. Tampa Bay ranks sixth in the NFL in turnover margin, and on the year are third in the NFL in team interceptions with 10. Going against a turnover prone and mistake prone quarterback, that could be the difference in this game.

Look for the Buccaneers to put pressure on Derek Anderson early, and expect them to keep doing it unless Anderson proves he can handle the pressure. Which he’s been unable to do all year.
This one will be low scoring, but as always, Tampa Bay will find out a way to win this game. The Buccaneers should be your Football Betting pick this weekend.

Football Betting Pick: Tampa Bay +3