Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 3 Betting Preview, Odds, and Prediction
Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 3 Betting Preview, Odds, and Prediction
Date: Sunday, September 26, 2021
Game Time: 4:25 PM ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
TV Network: FOX
Los Angeles Rams (2-0-0 SU, 1-1-0 ATS)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: (2-0-0 SU, 1-1-0 ATS)
Rams vs. Buccaneers Betting Odds
Two NFC playoffs hopefuls and legitimate Super Bowl contenders, the Bucs, and Rams will put their perfect 2-0 SU records on the line when they collide in Week 3 at SoFi Stadium. Of all the matchups on the weekend's NFL betting card, this is the one to circle because it could potentially be a playoff preview game as well.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are flying high behind a 2-0-0 SU start to their title defense campaign. Going back to the beginning of their magical run to Super Bowl 55, the Buccaneers are undefeated in nine straight games.Â
The Los Angeles Rams kicked off their campaign with Matthew Stafford leading his new team in back-to-back wins. Sean McVay couldn't be happier with his Rams right now. He's like a proud papa on the sidelines, brimming with joy that his decision to trade Jared Goff for Stafford in the offseason is validated so far.Â
Lookahead lines had this game cornered with the Rams at -1 across multiple sportsbooks. However, at the close of Week 2, the line flipped. Now, the Buccaneers are laying 1 point to the Rams. The total, in the meanwhile, jumped out to 54.5 points after opening on 50 points.
Los Angeles Rams Odds & Overview
Matthew Stafford and the Rams faced stiff competition against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, but they persevered with a narrow 27-24 victory. Carson Wentz' ankle injury in the fourth quarter swung the momentum in Los Angeles' favor. However, Wentz had held his own up to that point.
Stafford went 19-of-30 for 278 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Darrell Henderson Jr. led the Rams in rushing with 53 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, while Cooper Kupp put up 163 yards receiving on nine receptions and two touchdowns. Kupp's chemistry with Stafford is sublime. It's as if they've been playing together for years.Â
The Rams are 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS with an average winning margin of 115 points. The Rams covered as the 9-point closing faves in the 34-14 win over the Chicago Bears. However, they failed to cover as the 4-point closing road faves in the 27-24 win over the Colts.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds & Overview
The Buccaneers opened their title defense campaign with a hard-fought 31-29 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium, followed by a 48-25 evisceration of the Atlanta Falcons. Indeed, after beating the Cowboys and the Falcons, the Buccaneers nosed ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 56 betting. As a result, the Buccaneers are now the team to beat.Â
The Buccaneers have put up 79 points and conceded 54 points in two games. By the stats, they have the highest-scoring offense in the league averaging 39.5 points per game. Tom Brady leads the league with nine touchdowns, and he's fifth in passing yards per game (655 yards). Rob Gronkowski leads the league in receiving touchdowns (4). He has one more than Cooper Kupp, Travis Kelce, DeAndre Hopkins, Adam Thielen, Aaron Jones, Zach Pascal, and Tyler Lockett (all tied on 3 TDs).
Tampa Bay's defense hasn't dominated per se, except against the run. They're second overall in rushing defense with an average of 57.5 yards per game. Last season, the Buccaneers defense rounded out into form later in the year. It's likely the same will happen again.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | -118 | -1.5 | Over 55.5 (-107) |
| Rams | +110 | +1.5 | Under 55.5 (-110) |
Click Here For Rams vs. Buccaneers Betting Odds
Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 3 Betting Prediction
This will be the first big test for both teams, so the stakes are high. Only a few quarterbacks spring to mind as solid bets in pressure situations, one of which is Brady. His experience could be the difference if the game comes down to the team that gets the ball last.
The 44-year-old veteran proved it in Week 1 as he led the Bucs in a game-winning drive. Of course, Stafford's experience is limited in such spots. But it's the one knockback on the otherwise elite quarterback. Well, that and he's never won a playoff game either. So, if it comes down to the wire again, the Bucs have the slight advantage over the Rams with their championship pedigree quarterback.Â
NFL Picks: Buccaneers -1 (-110)
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Nikki Adams is a freelance sports writer that’s honed in on the world of sports betting. She joined OddsChecker in 2021 after having covered a number of major American sports, including NFL and NCAAF, for several other publications in the industry. When she’s not looking for the best betting angles and writing engaging and insightful articles, she’s likely on a tennis court or binging on reality TV.