For the 4-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week Six brings a third straight matchup against a fellow first place team in the NFC, this time the 4-1 San Francisco 49ers. It's a return home for the Buccaneers after a rousing 38-35 win in Seattle, and another test against an NFC West powerhouse. To find out how to watch, listen and livestream the game, click here.
Given that the Buccaneers and 49ers have combined to play 10 games and all of them have been decided by a single score, frequently occurring in the final moments of regulation, it's unsurprising that the experts are unanimously expecting a close game on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. There are concerns about notable injuries for both teams, the specifics of which lead some analysts to lean one way or the other. One writer's confidence in Kyle Shanahan led to him siding with the 49ers, and another noted the extra rest that the visiting team will have after playing on Thursday night in Week Five. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio simply wrote: "The Bucs have arrived in the Super Bowl window."
Here's how NFL.com's Tom Blair sees it:
"When two apparent smoke-and-mirror outfits face off, it's time to ask yourself what you believe -- and, well, I unapologetically believe in Baker Mayfield. I recognize that San Francisco -- powered lately by overachieving understudies -- is exactly the kind of opponent that could grind the Bucs down, keeping them on their heels until there is not enough time left to pull off even the most daring escape act. The 49ers just used a similar formula to scratch out a win over Matthew Stafford and the Rams, after all. But that was on a short week in the Pacific time zone. Can the undermanned Niners secure a second straight upset -- on the other end of the country, against an opponent as irrepressible as this Tampa team?"
The Buccaneers are 3.0-point favorites at home and have the backing of many experts with their picks, in large part to the growing faith in Mayfield. Here's what some of them are predicting will occur on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium:
NFL.com – Four of five analysts favor the home team in this one
ESPN.com – 11 of ESPN's NFL-knowers gather, and 10 side with the Buccaneers
CBSSports.com – Pete Prisco thinks the Bucs will keep a hot streak rolling
USA Today – Six experts predict very high-scoring affairs…all ending in the Bucs' favor
Bleacher Report – Picking against the spread, seven analysts split just barely in Tampa Bay's favor
Pro Football Talk – Uncharacteristically, Mike Florio and Chris Simms agree on the Bucs' game
Sports Illustrated – The Bucs get the nod from 75% of SI analysts
Sporting News – Tampa Bay is the pick in a close game
