Bucs are underdogs against Eagles

by Gary Shelton on September 23, 2023

in general

Saturday, 3 a.m.

The first week was a surprise. No one expected much from the Tampa Bay Bucs, and despite a slow start, the Bucs snuck up on Minnesota.

The second week was a gimmie putt. The Chicago Bears aren't very good, and the Bucs were home. Despite being sluggish in the red zone, the Bucs were good enough to win.

But this one?

This one could get your attention.



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This week, the Bucs are home against a powerful Philadelphia Eagles team and, yeah, they're five-point underdogs. But if Baker Mayfield is charmed again, if the Rays can spring their receivers again, if they can win again, they will be the talk of the NFL.

But can they? These are Eagles, mind you, a team that a lot of people expect to see in this year's Super Bowl. They have Jalen Hurts, and they have a dominating defense, and Mayfield is sure to be harrassed more than in the first two weeks.

This is the type of game the Bucs would have to win the turnover battle and play well on special teams to win. They'd have to shut down the big play.

Can they do all of that? Hey, they're underdogs for a reason.

Prediction: Philadelphia 21, Tampa Bay 13.

In other NFL games:

Dallas 30, Arizona 7.

Seattle 24, Carolina 10.

New Orleans 27, Green Bay 21.

Buffalo 30, Washington 21.

New England 27, New York Jets 21.

And in the college games:

Clemson 21, FSU 17.

Miami 34, Temple 10.

Florida 38, Charlotte 14.

USF 13, Rice 10.

'Oregon 24, Colorado 23.

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