An appealing NFL preseason matchup is coming soon, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals will duel on Saturday, August 10, at 7:00 PM ET at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals are favored to find success at home, with a point spread at -4.0 (-115).
The Buccaneers have been successful in their last three seasons as they have been on top of the NFC South. They capped off last year with a 9-8 record and fell short in the NFC Divisional Playoffs against the Detroit Lions, 31-23.
Their offense contributed 348 total points, equivalent to 20.5 points per game. This ranked 20th in the league, so they need to work on their below-average execution here.
Defensively, they were able to slow the pace down and allow teams to average 19.1 points per game (325 total). This put them seventh overall in the league, which arguably helped carry them into the playoffs.
The Bucs have much to look forward to this season after winning the Wild Card matchup against a potential Super Bowl-winning team in the Philadelphia Eagles last year. However, their follow-up loss to the Lions shows they still need work on both sides of the field.
The Bengals were last in the AFC North last year, 9-8. While they did have a four-game win streak, they could only sustain that momentum during the season.
Their offense looked a bit better on paper than the Bucs', as they scored 366 total points and averaged 21.5 points per game. This put them at 16th in the league, so it was right about average.
On the defensive end, they allowed their opponents to score 384 total points and average 22.6 points a game. This ranked them 21st, which is not the direction they need to take if they want to win games this season.
The Bengals are more than capable of being a solid team above .500 this season. However, they will put their offseason adjustments to the test in this matchup.
You can count on quality odds from MyBookie for the NFL preseason. The Cincinnati Bengals are four-point favorites. According to market insights, this matchup will be a close battle.
As with many preseason battles, neither team's main core of starters will likely see any action. Instead, players will likely fill out potential roster spots or coaches make adjustments before the season. The Bengals arguably have the most to "lose" here since they are at home and have many positions requiring work.
