Ravens vs. Bucs (Week 8 Thursday Night Football) Prediction & Best Bets

Going into the NFL season, many would have pinpointed the Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers matchup to kick off Week 8 as one of the more important games of the year.

Well, it certainly is, but it’s not for the reasons anyone would have expected at this point.

No, it’s not because the last few TNF games have not featured a potential contender and we’re all starved for excitement.

Last week’s matchup between the Saints and Cardinals was between 2-4 teams but did at least feature more entertainment than the previous two matchups had–combined.

But with the Bucs at 3-4 and the Ravens at 4-3, neither team is looking especially like a contender at the moment, even if they both sit atop their respective divisions and remain in the upper tier in the latest Super Bowl LVII odds.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Baltimore Ravens (4-3, 2-1 away, 1st in the AFC North) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, 1-2 home, 1st in the NFC South)
• Venue & Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
• Date: Thursday, October 27, 2022
• Game Time: 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time
• How to Watch Ravens vs. Bucs: Amazon Prime Video

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Early Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline.

Spread

• Baltimore Ravens -1.5 (-112)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +1.5 (-108)

Over/Under

• Over 45.5 (-115)
• Under 45.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Baltimore Ravens -130
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers +110

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Gameday Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Thursday, October 27 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

Spread

• Baltimore Ravens +1.5 (-105)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1.5 (-115)

Over/Under

• Over 45.5 (-115)
• Under 45.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Baltimore Ravens +110
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers -130

Can the Bucs Fix What Ails Them?

In the past couple of weeks, the Bucs were expected to stroll on the road against first the Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Carolina Panthers.

Then they lost to Kenny Pickett and the Steelers, who stopped their game-tying two-point conversion attempt in the fourth.

Then they lost to PJ Walker and the Panthers, who kept the Bucs out of the end zone all day while finding it three times themselves.

Great day to have a great day @TommyTremble! pic.twitter.com/UvwaqApy6J

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 23, 2022

Tampa Bay may be the best of a rough-looking bunch in the NFC South, but like the 49ers, Chargers, Packers, Rams, and Ravens, they find themselves with more losses than expected through seven weeks.

The obvious place to point is the offense. Opponents have scored more than 21 points only once against the Buccaneers thus far, but Tom Brady and co. have tallied more than 21 points just once as well.

Scoring only one offensive touchdown against the Steelers–and taking over 55 minutes to score that one touchdown–was bad enough but they sunk to even lower depths by managing only a field goal against the Panthers in Sunday’s 21-3 loss.

Brady has an exceptional TD-to-INT ratio entering Thursday’s matchup with the Ravens, with eight touchdown passes and only one interception in 296 attempts thus far.

But it means very, very little, when he has only eight touchdown passes and one multi-touchdown game through seven games of the season is absolutely astounding.

In his first two seasons in Tampa, he had 2+ touchdown passes in 30 of 39 games, regular season and playoffs combined.

Also, Brady is averaging just 6.6 yards per attempt this season, down from 7.6 and 7.4 in his first two seasons with the Bucs.

Game-by-Game Yards Per Attempt for Tom Brady (2022 Season)

• Dallas: 7.9
• New Orleans: 5.6
• Green Bay: 6.5
• Kansas City: 7.4
• Atlanta: 6.8
• Pittsburgh: 6.1
• Carolina: 5.9

Is the transition from Bruce Arians to Todd Bowles a culprit? Perhaps, but he is working with the same offensive coordinator and QB coach.

Could it be the absence of Rob Gronkowski? Perhaps.

Could it be other factors that have been publicized? Perhaps. Possibly all three.

Brady’s certainly not at his best right now, but the ground game is putrid right now. The Buccaneers weren’t prolific running the ball in Brady’s first two seasons, but they at least averaged 4+ yards per carry.

Through seven weeks this season, Tampa Bay is alone in last in both yards per carry (3.0) and rushing yards per game (64.4) and tied with the Colts for the fewest rushing touchdowns (two).

🛑🛑🛑 pic.twitter.com/30WiZlghjH

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 23, 2022

The Ravens are giving up just 105.1 rushing yards per game, but they allow an average of 4.5 yards per carry, which is in the bottom half of the league.

Also, while Baltimore ranks well in sacks and interceptions, they allow 7.4 yards per pass attempt, which is in the bottom half of the league. So, this does represent a potentially good opportunity for the Bucs to get back on track.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction and Best Bets

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Prediction: Bucs to win

Ravens vs. Buccaneers Best Bets: Bucs to win (Best Value: +110 at BetOnline) & Bucs team total over (Best Value: over 22.5 @ -105 at Bovada Sportsbook)

There aren’t a lot of tangible reasons to believe in the Bucs at the moment. But it is still early, a stretch of three straight home games provides a chance to put this start behind them.

While there are few reasons to back the Bucs, it’s even harder to back a team that is not good at all at winning road games against decent opposition and has made a routine out of letting teams stay in games.

There is potential concern with Tampa’s run defense, which allowed 150+ yards three times in four games, including 173 against Carolina. But it isn’t enough to deter me from backing the Bucs here.

A win over the Ravens won’t completely catapult the Buccaneers back into a place of strength. But this is just the kind of matchup that can help things get moving in the right direction again, and I expect them to make the most of it to even up their record for the season.

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