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NFC Wildcard: "Fly Eagles Fly" vs Tampa Bay FOX Noon CT


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Eagles at Buccaneers expert picks, odds: Point spread, total, player props, TV, live stream for wild card game

By Tyler Sullivan      17 mins ago

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The Philadelphia Eagles will travel into Raymond James Stadium to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers later today during Super Wild Card Weekend. The Bucs are looking to become the first team since Tom Brady's 2003-2004 Patriots to win back-to-back Super Bowls and enter this playoff run as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Eagles will look to play spoiler but will do so as a rather big underdog. 

In this space, we'll specifically be looking at the different betting angles that this matchup has on deck for us. Below, you'll read picks from both CBS Sports and SportsLine experts on this game, as well as a handful of player props that catch our eye. 

All NFL odds are via Caesars Sportsbook.

Date: Sunday, Jan. 16 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
TV: Fox | Stream: fuboTV (try for free)
Odds: Buccaneers -8..5, O/U 46

Eagles at Buccaneers spread picks

"The Bucs beat the Eagles 28-22 in Week 6 on a Thursday night. The Eagles were struggling at the time, especially running the football. But it was after that game that their run game took off when they made a commitment to it, resulting in them leading the league in rushing. That will be the key here, but the Bucs are good against the run. Tampa Bay did give up 109 rushing yards per game in the last three, well over their season average of 92.5. The Eagles didn't sack Tom Brady in the last meeting, so they have to be better in that area. I think the combination of Brady missing two of his top passing targets in Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown the rest of the way will slow them down some. That, coupled with the Eagles running it, will keep this close." -- CBS Sports Senior NFL analyst Pete Prisco on why he's picking the Eagles to cover the 8.5-point spread against the Bucs on Sunday. To read the rest of his Wild Card picks, click here.

"The 28-22 final score of the Buccaneers and Eagles' first meeting earlier this year did not feel accurate, as the game didn't feel very close at all. With that being said, I think Philly can cover this large spread. It's true that the Eagles did not beat a playoff team this year and feasted on lesser clubs, but they have the No. 1 rushing offense with 159.7 ground yards averaged per game, and the weather is supposed to be gross due to rain and wind. I'm not going to bet on Tom Brady to lose at home in the first round, but I feel like the point spread is a bit inflated. The Over/Under of 46 could be a bit high, too. Continue to monitor the weather." -- CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani on why he's taking the points with Philadelphia. To read the rest of his Wild Card picks, click here. 

SportsLine expert Emory Hunt has been locked in on the Eagles, owning a remarkable 35-19-1 record in his last 55 picks involving Philadelphia. He's now planted his flag for this playoff matchup between the Eagles and the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers and made his pick to keep that hot streak rolling. To see which way he's leaning, you'll have to go to SportsLine.

"Hard for me to shy away from Tom Brady in this spot with the spread under 10. The Buccaneers were 6-2 ATS at Raymond James Stadium this season, which was tied for the second-best mark in the NFL. Tampa Bay should have running back Leonard Fournette and linebacker Lavonte David for this game, along with Shaq Barrett, who was activated off of the reserve/COVID-19 list this week. The Eagles were able to keep their Week 6 loss to the Bucs within a score, but it was a dominating effort by Tampa Bay, which almost doubled Philly in yards and time of possession. The weather could play a role as rain and wind are forecasted for this game, but I don't think that will impact Brady much in the passing game. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last seven as an underdog." -- CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan on why he's laying the points with the Buccaneers. To read the rest of his picks, click here.

Eagles at Buccaneers total picks

"This is a fun matchup from the perspective of offensive approaches. Philadelphia runs the ball more often than any team in the league (51.2%), while Tampa runs it the least often (33.8%). What isn't as fun, at least not for Philadelphia, is that Tampa is a team you'd prefer to be able to throw the ball against because that's its defensive weakness. The Bucs are solid against the run, which should be a problem for the Eagles. This isn't to say that Philly won't have any success; it's more that it'll be hard for Jalen Hurts and Co. to find consistent success.

"If the Eagles struggle and fall behind, that'll put them in a position where they're forced to throw the ball, and they aren't good at it. Of the 14 teams to reach the postseason, only Pittsburgh has a lower passer rating than the Eagles. Still, while I don't have the highest of hopes for the Philadelphia offense, I'm not ready to lay 8.5 points with Tampa, either, so instead the under seems like a smarter play. The fact current forecasts are calling for winds of 20-plus mph in Tampa on Sunday doesn't hurt my confidence, either." -- CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli on why he's taking the Under in Eagles-Buccaneers. To read the rest of his best bets, click here. 

Best prop picks

Rob Gronkowski total receiving yards: Over 56.5 (-115). Gronkowski is coming off back-to-back monster games where he's averaged 126 yards receiving. He now faces an Eagles defense that has struggled against tight ends, allowing 61 receiving yards per game (sixth-most in the NFL). 

Gronkowski anytime touchdown (+130). Same premise as receiving yards prop, but this could actually be more likely to hit. This season, the Eagles gave up 14 touchdowns to opposing tight ends, the most in the NFL. 

Jalen Hurts total rushing yards: Over 49.5 (-115). The Buccaneers blitzed on 36% of dropbacks this season (second-highest rate in the NFL). If that continues on Sunday, Hurts will be flushed out of the pocket and create even more rushing opportunities that that speedy quarterback will already have called for him in this matchup. He's gone over this prop in eight of his 15 games played this season. 

 

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The weather could be playing a factor on Sunday, with torrential rain passing through in the morning, and almost 30-MPH winds circulating at game time.

Eagles vs. Buccaneers: Can Philadelphia upset Tamp Bay in the wild card round?

Glenn Erby  2 hrs ago

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The time for talking is over and the Eagles are a little under five hours from kicking off a wild card playoff game against the Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.

The Eagles made it interesting Thursday night against the Bucs before succumbing. Anyone who expected much more from this team this season wasn’t being realistic. The trade Friday of TE Zach Ertz to the Cardinals provided yet another signal that this is a full-scale retooling.

The weather could be playing a factor on Sunday, with torrential rain passing through in the morning, and almost 30-MPH winds circulating at game time.

The Eagles averaged a league-leading 159.7 rushing yards per game, and they’ll have both Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard available for Tampa’s top-ranked rush defense.

The Buccaneers ruled out wide receiver Cyril Grayson (hamstring) and running back Ronald Jones (ankle) for Sunday’s game.

Tampa is already without Chris Godwin (ACL) and Antonio Brown (release) and Grayson had a huge game in the season finale, and they also listed three players as questionable as well, as cornerback Carlton Davis was added to the injury report on Friday with a back injury. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting is questionable with a hamstring injury. He was limited all week in practice. Wide receiver Justin Watson (quadriceps) is also questionable, but he was a full participant in Friday’s practice.

The Bucs have running back Giovani Bernard, linebacker Lavonte David, but will be without running back Leonard Fournette, who accounted for 127-yards and 2 touchdowns in Tampa’s Week 6 win at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Week 6 loss was the beginning of an offensive shift for Philadelphia after fans and experts were critical of Sanders logging just one carry in the first half of that loss. Sirianni started his shift towards a run-first philosophy in the loss to the Raiders and the rest is history after the Eagles roared into Detroit and nearly dropped 250-rushing yards (236) on the Lions.

Philadelphia’s momentum and confidence won’t stop there, as this is a team that battled with Tampa in Week 6 without Dallas Goedert, Lane Johnson and had to flip Jordan Mailata from left to right tackle.

Tampa’s weapons aren’t what they were earlier in the season and Jonathan Gannon’s biggest dilemma will be how he approaches containing star tight end Rob Gronkowski in the passing game.

Look for the Eagles to force Tom Brady and company into a contest where they are forced to take the underneath routes, play slow, plodding football, while Gannon plays a two-high look over the top that can prevent any huge plays.

This is a confident Philadelphia, filled with several guys who’ve played in important playoff games and if the Birds can withstand Tampa’s early punch, Sunday could provide the scenario for a dream upset, where Jalen Hurts outplays a legend.

 

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8 minutes ago, Dr Fear said:

From about 930am to 1030am the line moved from -8 to -7.

I guess it is weather related? The bad weather seems to favor the Eagles a little more. This can neutralize the Bucs offensive weapons. They are already down AB and Godwin. Fournette is out. Eagles strength is their run game. Hurts is going to have to have a big game on the ground today for the Eagles to have a chance.

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I guess it is weather related? The bad weather seems to favor the Eagles a little more. This can neutralize the Bucs offensive weapons. They are already down AB and Godwin. Fournette is out. Eagles strength is their run game. Hurts is going to have to have a big game on the ground today for the Eagles to have a chance.
Weather has been known, it's sharp money on the Eagles.
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This won’t help though. 

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Philadelphia Eagles starting defensive end Josh Sweat will miss Sunday's playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after undergoing a medical procedure to address what the team described as a "life-threatening situation."

"On Tuesday night, Josh Sweat was admitted to the hospital. He underwent an emergency procedure due to the severity of the matter. The doctors addressed a life-threatening situation," the Eagles said in a statement. "In the following days, Josh and our medical team did everything possible to help him return to play. He improved every day but it was determined by the doctors today that he was not quite ready. The fact that Josh came so close to playing is a credit to his toughness and our medical staff."

Sweat had been listed on the injury report with an illness this week. On Friday, coach Nick Sirianni said Sweat had been dealing with abdominal pain earlier in the week but had since returned to the facility and was feeling better.

Sweat, 24, had the best regular season of his career in 2021, tying for a team high in sacks with 7.5. He added seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits.

Veteran Ryan Kerrigan (0 sacks) and rookie Tarron Jackson (1 sack) will see heightened roles in Sweat's absence, playing alongside starter Derek Barnett (2 sacks).

The Eagles had trouble applying consistent pressure on quarterback Tom Bradyin Week 6, registering zero sacks and three quarterback hits in a 28-22 loss.

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