Steelers vs. Buccaneers Prediction, NFL Best Bets & Odds: Friday, 8/11
With the NFL Hall of Fame Game now in the rearview, it’s time to get the preseason legitimately started with a full slate of games running Thursday-Sunday. This opening week includes the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on Friday at 7 PM ET.
Our experts have crafted a Steelers vs. Buccaneers prediction with betting odds and details of a $1,000 sign-up bonus courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Read on for complete coverage and the best bet for the Bucs’ first preseason game.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS VS. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS PREDICTION: Over 39.5 (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook)
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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction for Preseason Week 1
Preseason NFL games aren’t necessarily a betting phenomenon because of teams’ focus on development over winning. The starters hardly play, so it’s not a true measuring stick of where teams stand and where they are headed in the regular season. But, for true NFL fans who enjoy scouting reserves and have supreme knowledge on the depth of these football teams, the preseason can offer an exciting betting experience.
These two teams are trending in opposite directions. The departure of Tom Brady from the Bucs sparked a movement that altered the course of the franchise. With a focus on rebuilding both their offensive and defensive lines, the Bucs are headed for rebuilding, especially when you consider they will be playing a first-place schedule this season after winning the NFC South with a sub-.500 record.
The Steelers, with now second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett are coming off a strong finish to their 2022 campaign. Even though they missed the playoffs, they look to be headed for a more consistent season in 2023. The Bucs are favored at home by a point in this one, but our Steelers vs. Buccaneers prediction focuses on the point total.
Steelers vs. Buccaneers Best Bets & NFL Picks for Friday Featuring Over 39.5
When the first units for each of these teams are on the field, we will take the Steelers nine times out of 10 this year. But because it's preseason in Tampa Bay and the game will be full of reserves, the matchup shapes up to be a close one, just as the spread indicates. For these reasons, we want to stay away from taking a side with our official Steelers vs. Buccaneers prediction.
We like the game total to go over 39.5 points (-110 at BetMGM Sportsbook) because of the quality quarterbacks going against second and third-team defenses. Pickett didn’t even get a full season as a starter in his rookie year, so we bet we can see him for at least a couple drives in this game. Once he is out, the Steelers have two quarterbacks who have started plenty of regular season games in their career: Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. Both have struggled as starters, but they are more than adequate backups and game managers who know how to operate and prepare for their opponent.
For the Buccaneers, Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield will be the quarterbacks. Trask has pretty much only had preseason activity the last two seasons sitting behind Brady, but he offered some promising traits during his time at Florida that earned him a second-round selection.
Mayfield has spent multiple years as a starter and will be looking to impress early and reinvent himself, starting with an opponent he is quite familiar with after his tenure in Cleveland. Based on the quarterbacks behind center in this matchup and rather unknown defensive reserves on each side, we are confident in the point total going over 39.5 points here.
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Latest Steelers vs. Buccaneers Odds, Spreads & Betting Lines for 8/11 Powered by BetMGM
When discussing our top Steelers vs. Buccaneers prediction, the over 39.5 points comes with -110 odds at BetMGM Sportsbook, which means an $11 wager profits $10 as long as the game ends with 40 or more points scored between the two teams. We have each of the standard markets for you below as well:
Point spread:
- Pittsburgh Steelers +1 (-115) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1 (-105)
Money line:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (-110) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-110)
Total (over/under):
- Over 39.5 (-110) vs. Under 39.5 (-110)
Steelers’ CB Cory Trice Jr. Out for Season
The preseason is typically the opportunity for seventh-round rookies like Cory Trice Jr. to shine. Trice Jr. is a talented defensive back whose draft stock plummeted due to injury history. That track record struck again as he went down in the Steelers’ first padded practice of the season.
He has been placed on IR and will not be eligible to return at any point this season. The absence of Trice Jr. serves as a reminder to consult team injury reports before choosing to bet on a Steelers vs. Buccaneers prediction, or any other game for that matter.
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