New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thursday, 8/18/11, 7:30 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Tampa Bay -3
Current Betting Line: Tampa Bay -2.5
Opening Total: 37.5
Current Total: 36.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
New England started the 2011 preseason with an impressive 47-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars as 3-point home favorites. The 47 points were the most points the Patriots have ever scored in a preseason contest. With such a number on the scoreboard, it’s even more impressive that it was posted without the services of MVP quarterback Tom Brady, who will likely see his first action of the season tonight. Backup Brian Hoyer started and was relieved by rookie Ryan Mallett, as the two combined for 335 yards passing. New England now travels on the road and is 20-21 ATS as a preseason underdog away from home.
The Patriots are 1-7 all-time against the Buccaneers in preseason action, but are still a solid 40-31 during exhibition games since owner Robert Kraft took over the team in 1994. Brady is anxious to get on the field and work with his wide receivers, especially new addition Chad Ochocinco. “He’s doing as good as you could hope,” Brady commented on Ochocinco’s grasp of the offense during camp. “It’s like an entirely new language. What he was doing in Cincinnati is very different that the way we do it here.” New England will be on the road for two consecutive weeks before finishing off the exhibition year at home against the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay is favored over New England this week and is coming off a 25-0 blowout victory over Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium as 2.5-point road favorites. The Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs, out-gaining them by 216 yards in the contest. All the talk around camp this week surrounded the defense, a unit that limited the Chiefs to just 137 total yards. Head coach Raheem Morris’ team has certainly caught the eye of many around the league, especially when finding that the roster has 74 players that are 25 years old or younger. Tampa Bay was a 20-15 winner over Kansas City in its preseason home opener a year ago as 2-point favorites.
The Buccaneers are led offensively by quarterback Josh Freeman, who threw for 3,451 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2010. He completed 9-of-13 passes for 73 yards in the preseason opener. Tampa Bay focused on its defense during the NFL draft, using its first and second round picks on defensive ends Adrian Claybord and Da’Quan Bowers out of Iowa and Clemson respectively. Getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been a point of emphasis during camp, as the squad ranked next-to-last in the NFL with just 26 sacks a year ago.
Bettors will likely back the Patriots due to their 3-0 ATS mark as an underdog the last three years, while the Buccaneers are 1-3 ATS at home over the last two preseasons.
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