If you like making Over/Under wagers and you’re looking for some value on the Week 3 schedule, then you’re going to enjoy the expert pick that you’re about to get on the Monday Night Football showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bucs have been absolutely eye-opening over their first two games while Pittsburgh is in the midst of some glaring early troubles that look like they could derail Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl hopes coming into 2018.
If you’re ready to find out what the Over/Under total pick is for this week 3 pairing, then let’s get to my expert O/U pick right now.
Raise ‘em!#GoBucs | #RaiseTheFlags pic.twitter.com/TReP7Vky7o
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 21, 2018
Monday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Game Information
🏈: Monday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
⏰: Mon. Sep 24, 2018 8:15 PM ET
🏟️: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
📺: FOX
🎰: Pittsburgh Steelers -1½ -110 | -125 | O 54 -110
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers looked mostly awful in their 21-21 season-opening tie against Cleveland in a game that narrowly played over the 41-point total. Pittsburgh then looked completely awful defensively in their 42-37 Week 2 home loss against Kansas City while that game’s final score played easily over the 52-point total.
The Steelers have now played over the total in each of their last four games dating back to last season. I guess I should also throw in the fact that the Steelers have a lot of peripheral drama going on with star running back Le’Veon Bell still embroiled in what has been an annual contract stalemate and perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown stirring up more drama with his recent ‘trade me’ comments to a reporter.
“It’s not fun, but it’s still early,” veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said after his team’s Week 2 loss. “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.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s funny how things work out, but because of Jameis Winston’s league-mandated suspension, the Buccaneers have suddenly been revitalized by the elevation of veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to the No. 1 spot under center. First, Fitzpatrick lit up the New Orleans Saints for 417 yards with four TDs and no picks in a stunning Week 1 road upset over their NFC South division rivals. Then, Fitzpatrick followed that up by torching the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles for 402 yards with another four touchdowns and one interception in an impressive 27-21 win last weekend.
“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.”
Expert Pick and Prediction
The 53.5-point total might look a bit high, but the way these two teams are playing, I’m thinking the Over is a virtual certainty. Basically, Tampa Bay can score on anyone with a phenomenal aerial attack that features three elite targets in veteran wide receivers
Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson and second-year tight end O.J. Howard. Combine that with the fact that Pittsburgh can score themselves, but apparently can’t stop running water this season and you have the perfect combination for an easy Over outcome.
The Over is 5-0 in Pittsburgh’s last five games after they gave up 350 yards of offense or more in their previous game. The over is also 5-1 in Pittsburgh’s last 6 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game and 4-1 in their last 5 games against a team with a winning record. The Over is also 6-1 in Tampa Bay’s last seven games following an ATS win and 4-1 in their last five games following an SU win. Keep it, simple people, the Over is the way to go.
Predicted Score: Tampa Bay 31 Pittsburgh 28
