Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Point Spread Pick

Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Point Spread Pick: I actually like the Lions a lot. Their defense has been better than one would think, giving up 25 points or less in five of their last 7 games, and that’s with an offense that hasn’t been doing much lately – especially not in terms of consistency. So this could be a tight game, but in the end it comes down to the Lions offense, and if they can rally behind 3rd stringer Drew Stanton. My guess is no, not against a Bucs team that beats the teams they should beat. Tampa Bay can throw it and run it and they make offenses be consistent if they want to win. Rarely do the Bucs give p a big play, as they tackle well and stay disciplined defensively. Can the Lions move the ball?

The Bucs are hurting on their defensive side of the ball, with Aqib Talib, Gerald McCoy, and Quincy Black all hitting the IR in the last two weeks. Talib had been playing very well while McCoy was coming into his own on the inside. This would have been a match-up between Top 3 picks in this year’s draft, McCoy and the Lions stellar young DT, Ndamukong Suh, but injuries made it not so. I think the Bucs are coached well enough to keep following their assignments, even with new blood in there – and going against a Lions offense struggling without Shaun Hill and/or Matt Stafford will help.

It’s amazing to think how these two teams have been so similar but so different this season. The Lions score 2 points less per game than they give up while the Bucs score a half a point less on average. The Lions score 21.9 per game and give up 23.8 while Tampa Bay scores 20, giving up 20.5 on average. It’s the Lions’ 0-6 road record that is really killing them. The Bucs have found ways to win while the Lions always manage to lose. Detroit is 3-10 while Tampa is 8-5. There’s something to be said about bucking up and just winning – Tampa is on to something.

Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6)