Steelers vs Buccaneers NFL Week 3 Lines & Betting

Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers will look to overcome a sluggish start and their own in-house drama when they take on Ryan Fitzpatrick and the impressive Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a suddenly intriguing NFL Week 3 Inter-Conference clash on Monday night. With both teams looking nothing like they were expected to look in 2018, let’s find out where the best betting value for this matchup lies.

Steelers vs Buccaneers NFL Week 3 Lines & Betting Analysis

When: Monday, September 24, 2018 at 8:15 PM ET Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida TV: ESPN

Weather Forecast

Partly Cloudy: 27^°C/80^°F
Humidity: 83%
Precipitation: 7%
Wind: 5 mph E
Cloud Cover: 52%
Type of Stadium: Open

Why Bet On the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Why should you bet on the Steelers in Week 3? Well, because they’re completely desperate after their uninspiring play over the first two weeks of the regular season. The Steelers also still have a bunch of elite playmakers on their roster in guys like Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and others. After kicking off their 2018 campaign with an uninspiring 21-21 tie against Cleveland, the Steelers got blown away in their stunning 42-37 loss against Kansas City last weekend in which they allowed second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes to throw a whopping six touchdown passes. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 452 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, but the Steelers defense never showed up at all. Superstar running back Le’Veon Bell is out in a contract dispute (again) and wide receiver Antonio Brown has been ‘acting a fool’ recently. Reports say that head coach Mike Tomlin has lost control of the locker room and I can see that being the case. “It’s not fun, but it’s still early,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s kind of where are we going to go from here. It’s kind of a mirror, gut check, whatever you want to call it. We’ll see how everyone wants to respond.”

Team Statistics

Offense:

Average Score For: 29
Total Yards: 473.5
Pass Yards: 377.50
Rush Yards: 96

Defense:

Average Score Against: 31.50
Total Yards: 388
Pass Yards: 236
Rush Yards: 152

Why Bet On the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Are the Buccaneers a safe bet to win in NFL Week 3?

Why should you bet on Tampa bay in this matchup? Well, because the Buccaneers have been downright unstoppable offensively since the start of the season. Tampa Bay jumped all over New Orleans to win their opener 48-40 on the road no less and then the Bucs followed that up with an hard-fought27-21 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has passed for over 400 yards in both games this season while tossing an identical four TD passes in each game. Veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson has nine catches for a league-leading 275 yards and three touchdowns while fellow wideout Mike Evans has a league-high 17 receptions for 230 yards and two scores. “I think we just developed a lot of confidence in the offseason and through training camp with how we worked, and the way things were going, and the rapport with the guys,” the 35-year-old Fitzpatrick said. “I think that confidence has carried over into the season.”

Team Statistics

Offense:

Average Score For: 37.50
Total Yards: 482.50
Pass Yards: 405
Rush Yards: 77.50

Defense:

Average Score Against: 30.50
Total Yards: 443.50
Pass Yards: 376.50
Rush Yards: 67

Steelers vs Buccaneers NFL Week 3 Betting Trends

Pittsburgh is 1-8 ATS in the last 9 games
Pittsburgh is 18-6-1 SU in the last 25 games
The total went OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 5-0 ATS in the last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 5-10 SU in the last 15 games
The total went OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 9 games

Expert Analysis and Betting Prediction for Steelers vs Buccaneers

Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t understand why Pittsburgh is favored after seeing these two teams so far this season. Tampa Bay’s high-scoring ways look legitimate to me, seeing as how they have arguably the best pass catching trio in the league in veteran wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans and second-year tight end O.J. Howard. Pittsburgh’s defense looks like Swiss cheese and I’m expecting Ryan Fitzpatrick to light up the Steelers secondary in this contest. The Steelers are a discouraging 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss, 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in September and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall. Conversely, the Buccaneers are a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall, a near-perfect 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games and a consistent 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win. All signs are pointing to a Buccaneers win and ATS cover if you ask me! NFL Week 3 Pick: Tampa Bay 31 Pittsburgh 28