Packers vs Buccaneers Prediction: The matchup looks good for Tampa

Sky Sports heads over to Lambeau Field for the opening game on Sunday evening as the Packers welcome in the Buccaneers in a matchup of two teams still in postseason contention.

@NFLGirlUK is here with her match preview and we've picked out a couple of bets for you to consider...

Playoff implications are on the line for the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers. Both teams are on the outside looking in, each with a 6-7 record. Tampa Bay can clinch a playoff berth simply by winning their division, that they are currently leading, while the Packers search for a wild card spot.

Looking at the Buccaneers, they’re a tough team to figure out. They are 6-7 and on a two-game winning streak, yet their competition was verry minimal. They’ve beaten the Carolina Panthers at home, and the Atlanta Falcons on the road.

Both of those games were settled by a combined seven points. Even in those two good matchups, they are barely winning and staying alive in this playoff race. They also started the season 3-1 before falling to 4-7.

We’ve watched this team ride the highs and face the lows later on, and this could be a matchup where they’re forced back downwards. If they want to win this game, the plan for them will be to get efficient through the air and on the ground. Baker Mayfield threw for just 144 yards last week, while Rachaad White rushed for 102.

The two have to both have good games against a Packers team that’s had trouble against the rush. Speaking of, that’s an area the Buccaneers have improved lately, with White rushing for 100, 84, and 102 in the last three games.

As for the Packers, that aforementioned run defense will certainly get tested. Green Bay allowed the New York Giants to rush for 209 yards, the Kansas City Chiefs ran for 148, the Lions went for 140, the Chargers rushed for 150, and the Steelers ran for 205.

Those are just the last five games for Green Bay, yet they’ve given up at least 140 rushing yards in each of them. Being bad against the run is the best thing for opposing offenses, as it makes their job so much easier. Couple this with the Buccaneers improved effectiveness on the ground, and the Packers are instantly forced into a bad situation.

Luckily, they have seen some great play from Jordan Love, it’s just sporadic and too inconsistent to really gamble on. If he gets into an early rhythm, they can keep up. The problem is that Aaron Jones might be held out again with an injury, and top receiver Christian Watson might miss the game as well. If those two are out, Love’s job gets significantly harder.

If I had to bet on a winner for this game, I’d go with the Buccaneers. Talent-wise they might be worse off than the Packers, though that run game is a big problem in Green Bay.

They’re getting torn apart on the ground, and White’s been on a wonderful stretch of games rushing the football in Tampa Bay. It just appears to be a bad matchup, something that I wouldn't be surprised to see them take full advantage of.

Match Odds:

The spread in this one has the Green Bay Packers listed as a 3.5pt favourites, with the home side a pretty-short 8/15 to come away with the win. Tampa Bay can be backed at 6/4. I have a sneaking suspicion we might be returning to this section in the not too distant future.

The Total Points line has been set at 42.5, which is pretty much middle-of-the-road across the National Football Week for Week 15.

Bet 1 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win on the Money Line @ 6/4

Green Bay pound-for-pound have the better talent but this is one of those occasions where a team just isn't a great matchup and this is why I have Tampa returning from the cold weather of rural Wisconsin to Florida with a big win.

Someone has to win the low-quality NFC South and victory at Lambeau would put Tampa Bay in a really good place. Injury-concerns over Aaron Jones and Christian Watson as well simply cannot be overlooked.

Bet 2 - Green Bay Packers Under 23 Points in the 23-25 Point market @ 21/20

Those injury-issues could really stymie the Green Bay Packers offense and that is why for our second selection of the game, I've gone for the home side to score under 23 points.

Even when Jordan Love has been able to fully-utilise his skill players, they haven't exactly lit-up the scoreboard. Outside of dropping 38 on the Bears in Week 1, they haven't cleared the 30-point barrier once. This bet would have been a winner in seven of their previous ten matches.

Remember to check out our NFL Betting Tips index page where we preview games live on Sky Sports...