That’s right, nothing, not even a hurricane, pace Jameis Winston, is bigger than NFL betting. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had, as did the Miami Dolphins, an unexpected bye week, and will now officially kick off their season by hosting the Chicago Bears. As a result of this the Bucs will be forced to play 16 weeks in a row. To which Winston’s reaction was “we’ve got to man up and play. This is what we do – we get paid to do this.”
- Date: Sunday, 17th September
- Time: 1:00 PM
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Sportsbook Odds for Fans Betting on NFL:
Bears +6 (-110) 43 (-110)
Buccaneers -6 (-110) 43 (-110)
Sweet 16 straight
The Bucs – and Dolphins – will be the 19th and 20th teams to play 16 consecutive games since 1992. Between 1978 and 1990, of course, before byes were introduced, each and every team played 16 games in a row, but then men were men. Now men are, at best, Devo. “We’ve got to adjust and we’ve got to deal with it,” Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Koetter said per the team’s official website. “There is a precedent for teams playing 15 or 16 games in a row and you know what? Most of those teams have done pretty well.” about seven, as a matter of fact, of those teams have done well, if by ‘well’ one means posting a winning record. Six even improved, compared to the previous season, their win loss record, something which the Bucs, not having made the playoffs in a decade, would welcome with open arms. The Buccaneers have won and covered in six of their last eight games but have lost two of their last five against the Bears. The NFL betting total has gone under in five of the Bucs’ last seven games, and over in two thirds of the last six versus Chicago.
Game-breaker and game-broken
The Bears lost 17-23 – their fifth straight loss and fourth consecutive season-opening loss – to the Falcons on Sunday. The good news is that rookie running back Tarik Cohen is, in the colorful words of his teammates, a “game-breaker,” a “freak,” and a “baller.” And, presumably, an officer and a gentleman. Cohen is, also, and until quarterback Mitch Trubisky inevitably takes over from Mike Glennon, da Bears’ most dangerous weapon. Especially considering that, following Kevin White’s injury, which has him, perhaps for the rest of the season, joining Cam Meredith and Markus Wheaton on injured reserve, Chicago’s receiving unit has been reduced to Kendall Wright, Deonte Thompson and Josh Bellamy. Which is not, whether you’re Mike Glennon or Mitch Trubiski, a lot to work with.
🙏🏾's up for my brother @mrkevinwhite going thru yet another challenge. We don't know why these type of things happen to good people. 🙏🏾
— Cam Meredith (@Cam_I_Am81) September 10, 2017
Still, “Would Mitch Trubisky,” Chicago Tribune sports columnist Steve Rosenbloom rethorically asks, “have completed the Bears’ winning drive that Mike Glennon couldn’t?” And the answer? Apparently, is yes. Yes, he could have. The Bears have lost their last five road games but have won and covered the NFL betting spread in four of their last six visits to Tampa Bay.