New York Jets-Tampa Bay Bucs Odds and Picks Against the Spread

NEW YORK JETS AT TAMPA BAY BUCS (+2.5, O/U 43), Sun., 1:00 p.m. ET

The Jets can pull to .500 on a win even with a below-average offense (ranked 22nd) and defense (24th). Tampa Bay owns the league’s fourth-worst record (2-6) and has fallen five times in a row straight-up.

Two key players will try to beat their former employers. Bucs QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who slides in for Jameis Winston (shoulder), set a Jets touchdown pass record in 2015 with 31 when the team went 10-6, then went south last season. Jets TE Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, a prime target for QB Josh McCown, was unloaded by Tampa Bay last year after a DUI arrest.

LINE MOVEMENTS AND TRENDS

The Bucs’ forced adjustment to a QB other than Winston for the first time in three seasons flipped the line by a whopping four points. Tampa Bay opened at minus-1.5.

Perhaps another factor was that New York has not failed to cover in seven straight games, with one push. Their best work is at home; away, they are in a 1-3-1 ATS slump. The Bucs stand as a mirror image of the Jets, with a push and six ATS losses in the last seven encounters.

BREAKDOWN

A balanced offense has made life easier for McCown. The concern is that, even with an additional three days off, New York is not in tip-top shape on the injury front, and RB Matt Forte (knee) is iffy. Bilal Powell has been productive at times in lieu of the oft-hurt Forte.

The Bucs rank last in sacks with eight, so McCown should remain upright, though the status of RG Brian Winters (abdomen) could compromise the QB protection.

Winston’s run of 40 starts in a row ends, and an absence almost as critical will be ace WR Mike Evans’. He is suspended for a blind-side hit after the whistle last Sunday that happened to involve Winston.

The Bucs must count on more from a touted off-season acquisition, WR DeSean Jackson, a disappointment so far.

Tampa Bay’s woes have spread to placekicking. Patrick Murray, the latest to assume the role, blew a makable field goal last week, thus keeping coach Dirk Koetter’s confidence on threes shaken.

PICK

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