479 RAMS at 480 BUCCANEERS
Take: BUCCANEERS -4.5
I occasionally will make a play based almost solely on the situation, and this looks like one of those spots. I don’t like this scenario for the visiting Rams, and I very much like it for the Tampa Bay side.
First off, I’ll just say that I couldn’t care less about the travel factor. The west to east deal that used to work very well really hasn’t for some time now, and I basically ignored that completely when sizing up this particular game.
What does matter to me is that the 1-1 Rams are incompetent on offense and I believe they’re in the wrong place on the wrong week here.
Los Angeles is off a huge emotional win. They just won the first game in their new home and did so against a true rival as the Seahawks are divisional opponents. That was a gigantic victory for Jeff Fisher’s team. But were they impressive in getting past Seattle? I sure didn’t think so. I thought the win was more an indication of just how awful the Seattle offense is right now. The Seahawks offensive line is pathetic, and QB Russell Wilson was clearly not his usual self thanks to that balky ankle. The Rams were good enough to get the win, but I certainly didn’t upgrade them off getting that decision.
Meanwhile, the Bucs had to head to the desert to face a superior Cardinals squad that was smarting from a disappointing Week One defeat at the hands of the Patriots. Arizona was more than ready to play on Sunday, and the Cardinals were also catching the Bucs in a second straight road game off a divisional win against Atlanta. From a scheduling dynamics standpoint, that was one tough spot for Tampa Bay.
Had the Bucs put forth a big effort and just come up a little short, I might not feel as I do about this game. But they got absolutely humiliated by the Cardinals for the entire 60 minutes. I like this team to be improved this season, so my take here is that I’m going to get a fired up host eager to make immediate amends for a terrible showing.
Better team at home in what looks to be a favorable situational spot is more than palatable to me and I’m making the Buccaneers minus the points my Tuesday free play for this weekend’s NFL slate.
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