I really don’t need to get into a diatribe on this game. There are no hidden factors that will determine the outcome of this game. Let’s lay it out there. The Bucs should win. Playoff bound teams do win games like this one. So, if the Bucs are playoff caliber, which we think they are, win number eight on the season is coming up.
Let me clue you in to several things I’m keeping an eye on. For one, the Bucs are not taking this game lightly. They know their playing the Midwest extension of the Bucs with so many former coaches and players in Detroit right now. Players like Brian Kelly and Chucky Darby; yes, they’d like to take it to the Bucs. But two of three guys don’t carry enough weight. You have to look at the Lions as a whole and here’s what I see.
Detroit is a competitive team that actually is getting better offensively with Daunte Culpepper at Quarterback. Culpepper has rinsed off most of that rust while sitting on a couch, thought to be retired. Now he’s slinging the leather in Motown, and not half bad I might add. But the Lions haven’t and still don’t appear to have that little extra to get over the threshold to wining.
However, here’s what bothers me about this game. It’s on the road. The Bucs defense drops down a notch away from Ray Jay. The Bucs offense spins its wheels in the redzone, home or away. Until I see the Bucs offense drop two to three TD’s on the board in the redzone in one game, I still have to believe they will struggle inside the 20 again this week.
Bucs Head Coach Jon Gruden is 2 and 1 against the Lions with wins in 2002 and 2005, and a loss in 2007. The winning margin in ’02 on the road was three points. Their loss last season on the road was by 7.
Will the Bucs prevail Sunday? I think they will, but not by the nine points they’re favored by. So I’m taking……..
TK’s Bucs Pick: Lions +9
Line: Bucs -9
TK vs. Spread: 7-1-1
Happy Thanksgiving! Hope this game doesn’t turn out to be a turkey!
Tom Korun