Betting Picks

Steelers at Buccaneers: MNF NFL Week 3 Betting Preview and Pick

There have been three Monday night games in the NFL this season so far. The home team is 1-2 in them and none of them have scored more than 24 points yet. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the hosts of the MNF game to close Week 3, and they probably will need plenty more than 24 points to beat the high-powered Pittsburgh Steelers. But how will this MNF NFL Week 3 betting spread play out?

The Steelers are 1-point favorites, but Tampa Bay will be our NFL against the spread pick (not that getting one point does much). The total of 53.5 is the second-highest of any Week 3 game.
Being in opposite conferences and the Bucs only in the NFL since 1976, there’s not much history between these teams. Pittsburgh leads 8-2, but was upset in the most recent game 27-24 at home in 2014.

Why Tampa Bay will cover the MNF NFL Week 3 betting spread

Because of Fitzmagic! We are speaking of Bucs’ backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has lived up to the nickname in leading his team to a very surprising 2-0 start. Fitzpatrick has done what no previous Tampa Bay quarterback ever had: back-to-back games of at least 400 yards passing and four touchdowns in leading upsets in New Orleans and home to defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

In fact, Fitzpatrick is one of just three QBs ever with at least four TD passes in his team’s first two games of a season. Four of his TD throws are at least 50 yards. DeSean Jackson has been a monster so far with nine catches for 275 yards and three scores. Starting quarterback Jameis Winston wraps up a three-game suspension on Monday night, but it’s widely accepted that Fitzpatrick will keep the job unless he lays a giant egg against Pittsburgh. Jackson has said the team can’t take Fitzpatrick out. With Fitzpatrick under center, the Bucs’ NFC North odds have improved dramatically.

Pittsburgh betting notes for Monday

The Steelers can score with anyone, but their defense has been a major problem. That group allowed 14 fourth-quarter points in Week 1 to Cleveland, which led to a tie game. Then in Week 2, Pittsburgh was gashed for 42 points and 449 yards by Kansas City in the Chiefs’ 42-37 road victory.

That ruined a huge game for Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 452 yards and three touchdowns. He had two 100-yard receivers and one of them wasn’t even superstar Antonio Brown: They were tight end Jesse James (five catches, 138 yards, one TD) and WR Juju Smith-Schuster (13-121-1). Pittsburgh remains without arguably the best all-around running back in the NFL as Le’Veon Bell continues to hold out. It’s presumed he won’t return in time for Monday’s game. To add more drama, Brown pseudo-requested a trade this week via Twitter and took an unapproved day off. This team is in some turmoil.

Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh line movement

The Bucs opened as 2.5-point underdogs for this MNF NFL Week 3 betting matchup at many books. The total was as low as 50.

Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh matchup trends

• Pittsburgh has covered just one of its past nine games overall.
• Tampa Bay has covered eight of its previous nine following an ATS victory.