Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings Free Pick

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings Free Pick: Neither the Vikings nor the Bucs plan on starting the season 0-2, but one of them will surely end week 2 without a win. I think these teams are fairly even, the Bucs a little younger and more athletic, the Vikings a little older and savvier. Both teams have a punishing back and want to run it. The Bucs, they’re not afraid to take chances. From what I’ve seen from Minnesota, I’m not sure they’re ready to go out and take football games. They want to lull their opponent into a loss. I think Tampa Bay’s good enough to go out and take a game that Minnesota is trying not to lose.

The Vikings certainly have the make-up to throw the ball around and use that playaction pass more frequently. But their 3rd down draws from last week, and the receivers dropping the ball a little bit, that just doesn’t excite me.

Minnesota will try and try to run the ball, and Tampa will be ready for that – will they shut down AP? Probably not, but I think they do enough to get a win in a close contest. In a close contest, I’ll take Josh Freeman – he looks good when it matters most.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) @ Minnesota Vikings