Buccaneers vs Bengals Prediction & Picks: NFL Week 1

The guys handicapped Buccaneers vs Bengals on NFL Picks Week 1, a Sunday morning matchup in Cincinnati. The Bengals sit as a 3.5-point home favorite with the total at 50.5. The full slate breakdown is in the NFL Picks Week 1 episode.

Buccaneers vs Bengals Odds

Cincinnati Bengals -3.5 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3.5)
Total: 50.5
Moneyline: Bengals -200, Buccaneers +175

Cincinnati laying just 3.5 at home is the number both hosts kept circling. They like the Bengals, but they see these two teams as close to even, and neither wanted to give more than a field goal in a Week 1 spot where Cincinnati has a history of starting slow.

Our Picks

Both hosts are on the same side of this one.

Ryan Kramer (@KramerCentric): Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3.5
Sean Green (@SeanTGreen): Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3.5

The case starts up front. Tampa Bay’s offensive line is healthy again with Tristan Wirfs back after a year wrecked by injuries, and the guys peg it as a top-five unit when it is whole. Flip the matchup and the Bucs’ own defensive line, with Vita Vea healthy and reinforcements added under Todd Bowles, looks capable of giving a Cincinnati offensive line that struggled in the preseason some trouble. Then there’s the trend both leaned on: the Bengals start slow almost every year while Tampa Bay tends to come out fast, backed by Bowles going 12-3 against the spread in Weeks 1 and 2 against Joe Burrow’s 4-8 ATS start to seasons. Tampa Bay also lives as a moneyline round-robin option at +175 for anyone who wants to press it.