Freeman and Feisty Buccaneers Looking Like Football Betting Locks in Week 15

With the NBA rolling right along and the annual college bowl season approaching in just a few days, I won’t waste any BetOnline gridiron gambler’s time with my Football Betting selection on Sunday’s Week 15 betting matchup between the feisty Tampa Bay Buccaneers and similarly rebuilding Detroit Lions.

The Buccaneers will host the Lions at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET looking to take another step toward what once seemed like an implausible berth in the postseason while cashing in against the football betting odds for gridiron gamblers everywhere.

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Sunday, December 19, 1:00 PM ET

Live from Raymond James Stadium

TV: FOX

Radio: Sirius 155 and 158

NFL Odds

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -6.5

Over/Under 42

Here is a look at the key head-to-head trends surrounding this all-NFC matchup.

• Lions are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
• Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Tampa Bay.
• Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.

Detroit 411

• Lions are 8-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
• Lions are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC.
• Lions are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.

The Lions (3-10 SU, 9-4 ATS, 9-4 O/U) snapped their five-game winning streak by giving Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers a concussion on a series of hard, but legal hits, en route to a ugly 7-3 win over the Pack to cash in against the football betting odds as a 7-point home underdog and move to 2-0 against the football betting line over its last two games.

Tampa Bay 411

• Buccaneers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. win.
• Buccaneers are 4-0-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
• Buccaneers are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.

The Buccaneers (8-5 SU, 8-4-1 ATS, 6-7 O/U) snapped their modest two-game winning streak by beating the Washington Redskins 17-16 in their Week 14 matchup to play out as a Push against the NFL football betting odds as a 1-point road favorite.

Analysis: Listen up BetOnline gridiron gamblers. These two teams are really heading in opposite directions with the Buccaneers and gifted young quarterback Josh Freeman blossoming before our very eyes and the Lions just looking to finish out the regular season on a positive note after dealing with numerous injuries to many of their best players this season, including oft-injured starting quarterback Matt Stafford.

Not only has Tampa Bay won five of its last eight games, but each of their three losses during the eight-game span have come by a touchdown or less with two of those losses being by four points or less including their Week 14 loss to a Falcons team with the best record in all of football.

Prediction: The Detroit Lions have a slew of key trends that would appear to be pointing toward a solid payday against the NFL football betting odds in this matchup, but I’m backing Josh Freeman and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this matchup as I fully expect them to win and take another step toward what once seemed to be an impossible task of reaching the postseason.

The Buccaneers are 4-0 against the football betting line in their last four games following an SU win and a nearly identical 4-0-1 ATS versus a team with a losing record.

Oh yeah, I like Tampa to get ‘er done in this one and cash in against the value-packed BetOnline football betting odds.

NFL Picks: Tampa Bay Buccaneers –6.5 Points