Thursday 10/08/2020 Comps/Bonus Plays,Trends, Betting Info, Etc

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears 10/8/20 - NFL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to visit Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois for an NFC clash against the Chicago Bears. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers come into this matchup with a 3-1 record, and they will be looking to continue their success after winning their recent home game against the Los Angeles Chargers, 38-31. QB Tom Brady had a big game through the air for Tampa Bay as he connected on 30 of his 46 pass attempts for 369 yards, 5 TDs, and 1 interception. WR Mike Evans was the top target for Brady and the Buccaneers as he hauled in 7 catches for 122 yards and 1 TD.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were solid on the defensive side of the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers as they held them to 24 points and a total of 324 yards of offense. LB Lavonte David led the way for the Tampa Bay defense with 11 tackles and 1 TFL. The Buccaneers were able to get into the Los Angeles backfield a handful of times as Shaq Barrett and Jordan Whitehead both recorded 1 TFL and 1 sack.

The Chicago Bears come into this matchup with a 3-1 record, and they will be looking to rebound after dropping their recent home game against the Indianapolis Colts, 19-11. QB Nick Foles struggled to get much going through the air as he connected on 26 of his 42 pass attempts for 249 yards, 1 TD, and 1 interception. WR Allen Robinson II was the top target for Foles and the Bears as he hauled in 7 catches for 101 yards and 1 TD.

The Chicago Bears were good on the defensive side of the ball against the Indianapolis Colts as they held them to 19 points and a total of 289 yards of offense. LB Roquan Smith led the way for the Chicago defense with 13 tackles and 3 TFL. The Bears were able to get into the Indianapolis backfield a handful of times as Bilal Nichols recorded 2 TFL while Danny Trevathan, Khalil Mack, and Eddie Jackson all recorded TFLs.

Recent Betting Trends

Tampa Bay are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games.
Chicago are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games at home.

Free NFL Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -7.5

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have looked like the Super Bowl contender we all thought they would as Tom Brady has this offense moving down the field at will. The Chicago Bears have a solid record as they sit at 3-1, but I still have questions about this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball as Nick Foles was unable to do much against the Colts. While Tom Brady, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin have stolen the show thus far, the defense has quietly gone about their business as they have a great LB unit with David White, Lavonte David, and Shaq Barrett. The Chicago Bears will need to expose the mismatch on the outside with Allen Robinson II, but I don’t think the Buccaneers offense is slowing down anytime soon. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Buccaneers win and cover ATS 28-17.

Tulane at Houston 10/8/20 - College Football

The Tulane Green Wave are set to visit TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas for an AAC clash against the Houston Cougars. The Tulane Green Wave come into this matchup with a 2-1 record, and they will be looking to continue their success after winning their recent road game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, 66-24. QB Michael Pratt had a productive game for the Green Wave as he connected on 8 of his 18 pass attempts for 142 yards and 2 TDs. The ground game was the strength for Tulane as Cameron Carroll led the way with 163 yards and 3 TDs while Stephon Huderson pitched in 120 yards and a TD.

The Tulane Green Wave were solid on the defensive side of the ball against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles as they held them to 24 points on 369 yards of offense. LB Marvin Moody and LB Dorian Williams led the way for the Green Wave defense with 9 tackles a piece. The secondary had a productive game for the Tulane as freshman DB Kevaris Hall had the lone interception of the game.

The Houston Cougars have yet to play a game this season due to cancelations, but they are eager to have a much better season under Dana Holgorsen as they went 4-8 last year. The Cougars will bring back their starting QB from last season in Clayton Tune who had an inconsistent year with 1533 yards, 11 TDs, and 9 interceptions. Tune will return his leading WR from a season ago in Marquez Stevenson who was explosive with 907 receiving yards and 9 TDs as well as 2 kick return TDs.

The Houston Cougars really struggled on the defensive side of the ball last season as they allowed their opponents to score an average of 34 PPG, but they should be improved as they have experience. The Cougars will return their leading tackler from a season ago in LB Grant Stuard who had 97 tackles and 9.5 TFL. The secondary will also be in good hands with CB Damarion Williams who pitched in 73 tackles and 2 interceptions last year.

Recent Betting Trends

Tulane are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in October.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tulane's last 7 games.
Houston are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games against Tulane.

Free NCAAF Pick: Tulane Green Wave +6.5

The Houston Cougars will be much better in year 2 of the Dana Holgorsen era as he is an offensive guru, but they have yet to play a game this season while Tulane has already played 3 games. The Green Wave have been very good on the ground this season as they have 2 different RBs with at least 250 yards, and Cameron Carroll has been the TD machine with 7 TDs thus far. Tulane will look to control the clock with their run game, and they will need to control the speed of Marquez Stevenson in both the return game and as a pass catcher, but they have been respectable on the defensive side of the ball thus far. Tulane is the better overall team, but the biggest difference here is Houston still needs to knock rust off as they haven’t played at game speed yet. Final Score Prediction, Tulane Green Wave win and cover ATS 28-24.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs Chicago Bears

Date/Time: October 8, 8:20 p.m. ET
Stadium: Soldier Field
TV Coverage: NFL Network
Opening Odds: Buccaneers -6 | O/U 44.5 (Line History)

Opening Odds Analysis
Tampa Bay’s come-from-behind win and the Bears’ struggles last week inflated this point spread, which was Tampa Bay -3 on the look-ahead lines. Early bettors saw the extra value on Chicago early in the week, betting the Bears down to +5 at some shops by Monday night.

Tampa Bay News & Notes
The Tampa Bay attack should go into Chicago with plenty of confidence after its impressive second half last week against the Chargers. The Bucs produced five consecutive scoring drives to overcome a 24-7 deficit and Brady threw for more than 250 yards in the second half alone, finishing the game with five touchdowns.

Brady won’t have some of his usual weapons at his disposal, however, as he looks for an encore. Tight end OJ Howard ruptured his Achilles in the fourth quarter Sunday, while star receiver Mike Evans played through a right ankle sprain and is listed as questionable for Thursday. Tampa Bay is also without running backs Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy as well as receiver Chris Godwin.

All of those injuries, particularly Howard’s, may create more opportunities for Rob Gronkowski. The one-time superstar has played a limited role in Tampa’s offense so far, catching just nine balls for 88 yards in his first four outings. Running back Ronald Jones is another potential value play in fantasy after running for a career-high 111 yards on 20 carries against LA.

Chicago News & Notes
For a 3-1 team, the Bears continue to have some serious issues on offense. One week after relieving starting QB Mitch Trubisky to lead the Bears to a come-from-behind win at Atlanta, Nick Foles struggled badly throughout Sunday’s 19-11 loss to Indianapolis.

Foles completed 26 of 42 passes on the afternoon and the Bears didn’t reach the end zone until late in regulation, when the Colts had gone into a prevent defense. Foles didn’t get much help from the running game, which produced just 17 yards on 11 attempts in the first half.

Chicago runners might be in for another long night against a Tampa front that allowed the NFL’s fewest ground yards last year and ranks second against the run this season.

Poor offensive showings by the Bears are nothing new at Soldier Field. Chicago has now gone UNDER the total in six of its last seven home games, with those contests seeing an average of 34.71 points scored.

Betting Pick: Buccaneers -5

I don’t love backing the road team on a short week, but there’s no comparing these two offenses right now. Look for the Bucs to focus on stopping the run and force Foles to beat them through the air, something I’m not convinced he’s able to do.

*The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay’s last 18 games.
*Chicago is 4-12 ATS in its last 16 games.
*Tampa Bay is 4-0 ATS in its last 4 road games as a favorite.

Tulane Green Wave vs. Houston Cougars Pick ATS

Tulane Green Wave (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) vs. Houston Cougars (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS)
When: Thursday, October 8, 7:30 p.m.
Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston
TV: ESPN2
Point Spread: TULN +7/HOU -7 (Bookmaker - Oldest and Most Trusted!)
Total: O/U 61

Outlook
After five attempts to play its season opener, Houston finally gets to play its first game of the season against a Tulane squad that took out a lot of frustration on Southern Mississippi. The Green Wave rolled over the Golden Eagles to the tune of 66 points, mainly behind a running game that ended up with seven touchdowns when all was said and done. Now they face a known unknown, as the Cougars haven’t played since November 2019 but have split their past four matchups against the Green Wave.

Last season, these teams showed a flair for the dramatic, as Tulane pulled out the win on a 53-yard touchdown pass with just three seconds left in the game. But both teams will have different quarterbacks than they did a season ago, and both are eager to make amends for how they finished things last season. Which team arrives ready to make a statement?

How the Public is Betting the Tulane/Houston Game
The line and the total have both moved two points since the opening, with the line going from Houston -5 to the current number of -7 and the total jumping from 59 to 61.

Injury Concerns
Houston
Running back, Mulbah Car is questionable with a back injury. Linebackers Terrance Edgeston and Zamar Kirven are questionable with undisclosed injuries. Defensive lineman Sedrick Williams opted out of the season and running back Ta’Zhawn Henry, and kicker Bubba Baxa are both ineligible.

When Tulane Has the Ball
On the one hand, Tyjae Spears is now down for the season, forcing Tulane to reset its running back situation. On the other hand, Spears went down early in the win over Southern Mississippi, and the Green Wave still rolled up 427 yards on the ground against the Golden Eagles, 377 of which belonged to other backs. Cameron Carroll now becomes the main man in the backfield for Tulane, and if his debut as the Green Wave’s top runner was any indication, Tulane is in good hands. Carroll ran for 163 yards and three scores last game, and he’s got a solid No. 2 behind him in Stephon Huderson, who also topped 100 yards against the Golden Eagles.

The problem Tulane has is that it doesn’t have much of a passing game to speak of. Keon Howard struggled so badly against Southern Mississippi that he found his way to the bench in favor of freshman Michael Pratt, whose numbers were merely pedestrian against the Golden Eagles. Pratt will get the start, which says that Tulane is going to rely on its potent ground game to get the job done.

Truth be told, that’s probably the right way to play this situation for the Green Wave anyway. Given that the defense is not much of a strength for Tulane, its best hope is to keep the ball for as long as possible and keep the defense on the sidelines. For the Wave, 20 points have been the magic number in this matchup: over the past 15 meetings, Tulane is 3-1 against Houston when it scores at least 20 points and 0-11 when it fails to hit that number.

When Houston Has the Ball
Air raid systems tend to produce quality quarterbacks, but Houston never really got going last season. Clayton Tune only ended up throwing for 1,533 yards last season after current Miami quarterback D’Eriq King quit the team four games into the season — one of which was a loss to Tulane.

The biggest question for the Cougars is going to be whether Tune is on the same page with his receivers. The talent is there for Houston to have a great offense, as Marquez Stevenson put up more than 900 receiving yards last season and hauled in 52 catches. But nobody else got more than half as many catches as Stevenson, and Tulane’s defense is good enough to slow down Stevenson and keep him from taking over the game. Stevenson only caught two passes last year for 95 yards against the Wave, and even though one was a touchdown, Tulane still was able to get the job done. If Stevenson doesn’t get started early, it’s going to fall to Tune to get his other receivers involved. Houston does have a bit of a running game with Kyle Porter, but he’s not nearly as potent as Tulane’s stable of backs, so the Cougars are likely to focus on getting the job done through the air.

Betting Trends
When the Green Wave plays on the artificial green, the results usually end up being green for their bettors. Tulane has cashed in 14 of its last 17 games on turf, which isn’t a surface that Houston really enjoys. The Cougars might want to think about asking Tilman Fertitta to spring for a grass field because Houston is just 1-4 ATS in its past five games on turf.

However, eastern Texas hasn’t exactly been a fortunate place for the Green Wave to play as of late. Tulane has only covered in two of the past eight meetings between the two teams in Houston, and both of the Wave’s past two wins have come in New Orleans. Tulane has only won one of the past eight in Texas, that coming in 2014. That ties in with the Green Wave’s offense, as only two of the past eight meetings in Houston have seen Tulane hit that magic number of 20 points.

Tulane’s offensive struggles in the past play well with another trend: the under has cashed in four of the past five matchups between these teams. It’s hard to look at the under as a real option considering these teams scored 69 points last year, but what usually happens is the total gets set too high, and these teams end up using their knowledge of each other to hold the score down.

Weather Report
It could be a warm night in Houston, with temperatures in the mid to high 70s on a partly cloudy evening.

Pick to Cover the Spread: Take Tulane +7

I think too many people expect Houston to be what it started last year as, but I don’t think the Cougars are going to be at that level right out of the gate. Teams tend to look rusty in their first game, and Houston hasn’t played anyone since November of last year.

Plus, Tulane is exactly the wrong team for Houston to try to play fast against when it hasn’t played anyone yet this season. The Green Wave’s biggest strength is its dominant ground game, which means Tulane can keep the ball for a good chunk of the game and keep Houston’s air raid from scoring too quickly. I think there’s a good chance that Houston runs out of gas in the fourth quarter against an opponent that’s been playing actual games, and it wouldn’t shock me at all if Tulane manages to win the game outright.

But with the number moving toward Houston, I’d wait to take the Green Wave and see if you can get another point or two out of the deal. Regardless of where the final number ends up, I want Tulane and the points here.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS VS. CHICAGO BEARS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

** CHI Bears Win +5.0 Point Spread
-110

*** Under 44.0 Game Totals
-110

Point Spread Pick
It’s a rematch of the two quarterbacks from Super Bowl LII, as Tom Brady looks for his revenge against Nick Foles. Both are on new teams now and will go head-to-head when the Chicago Bears host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have won three games in a row, but I’m not too impressed. They beat the Panthers, Broncos, and Chargers–not exactly a murderer’s row of opponents. They only beat Los Angeles because the Chargers melted down in incredible fashion like only they (and maybe the Falcons) can, fumbling on their own 10-yard line with less than a minute in the first half. The Bears have only one loss, and that was to a very good Colts team that looks like one of the best in the league. This will be the toughest defense Brady has faced as a Buc, and it’s on the road on a short week. Brady has already had some trouble adjusting to his new offense so the limited prep time will be a big issue, and he threw another pick-six last week. Go with the home underdog.

Game Totals Pick
I like the under even more here. Tampa Bay’s offense has been depleted by injuries, and it is going to be significantly shorthanded for this one. Tight end O.J. Howard, who was starting to develop a rapport with Brady, tore his Achilles’ against the Chargers. Star wideout Chris Godwin is going to miss this one as he recovers from a hamstring injury and fellow receivers Scotty Miller, Mike Evans, and Justin Watson are all banged up, as well. Foles’ first start as a Bear didn’t go too well, as Chicago mustered only 11 points against Indy. The Bears’ defense, on the other hand, continues to look really good; and Tampa’s is much improved, as well. In two of their last three games, the Bucs have held their opponents to 17 or fewer points. I expect this one to be one of the lowest-scoring games of the Week 5 slate.

BETTING ODDS TRENDS
Chicago Bears
Chicago is 4-12 ATS in its last 16 games
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Chicago's last 25 games
Chicago is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games at home
Chicago is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
Chicago is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
Chicago is 16-7 ATS in its last 23 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Chicago is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay


Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is 5-9-2 ATS in its last 16 games
Tampa Bay is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games
Tampa Bay is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Tampa Bay's last 9 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chicago
Tampa Bay is 7-16 ATS in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Tampa Bay is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Chicago

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS VS. CHICAGO BEARS
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Soldier Field.

Oddsmakers opened the Buccaneers as -6-point favorites versus the Bears, while the game's total opened at 44.5.

In their last action, Chicago was a 19-11 loser at home against the Colts. They failed to cover the +3.5-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (30) was profitable news for UNDER bettors.

The Buccaneers were a 38-31 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Chargers. They failed to cover the -7.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (69) made winners of OVER bettors.

Tampa Bay:
Team record: 3-1 SU,2-2 ATS
Current Streak: won 3 straight games.
Tampa Bay is 5-9-2 ATS in its last 16 games
Tampa Bay is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games

Chicago:
Team record: 3-1 SU,2-2 ATS
Chicago is 4-12 ATS in its last 16 games
Chicago is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Chicago's last 25 games

Next up:
Tampa Bay home to Green Bay Sunday, October 18
Chicago at Carolina Sunday, October 18

TAMPA BAY @ CHICAGO

TAMPA BAY
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games
Tampa Bay is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

CHICAGO
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games at home
Chicago is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay

BETTING ODDS TRENDS
Houston Cougars
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
Houston is 11-4-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Tulane
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Tulane
Houston is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing Tulane
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Tulane
Houston is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Tulane
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing at home against Tulane


Tulane Green Wave
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tulane's last 7 games
Tulane is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Tulane is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Tulane is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Tulane is 4-11-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Houston
Tulane is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tulane's last 5 games when playing Houston
Tulane is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Houston
Tulane is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tulane's last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston

Trends

CHI
Chicago are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 games.
Chicago are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chicago's last 7 games at home.
Chicago are 13-4 SU in their last 17 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay.
Chicago are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference conference.
Chicago are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference South division.
Chicago are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games played in October.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago's last 10 games when playing as the underdog.


TB
The total has gone OVER in 15 of Tampa Bay's last 18 games.
Tampa Bay are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games.
Tampa Bay are 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against Chicago.
Tampa Bay are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games against Chicago.
Tampa Bay are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on the road.
Tampa Bay are 4-13 SU in their last 17 games when playing on the road against Chicago.
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Tampa Bay's last 12 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference conference.
Tampa Bay are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference North division.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games played in October.

Trends

TUL
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tulane's last 7 games.
Tulane are 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games against Houston.
Tulane are 3-13 SU in their last 16 games against Houston.
Tulane are 6-14 SU in their last 20 games on the road.
Tulane are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against Houston.
Tulane are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in October.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tulane's last 5 games played in week 6.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tulane's last 6 games played on a Thursday.


HOU
Houston are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games against Tulane.
Houston are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games at home.
Houston are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against Tulane.
Houston are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the American Athletic Conference conference.
Houston are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games played in October.

TAMPA BAY (3 - 1) at CHICAGO (3 - 1) - 10/8/2020, 8:20 PM

Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 38-63 ATS (-31.3 Units) in October games since 1992.
TAMPA BAY is 49-71 ATS (-29.1 Units) in weeks 5 through 9 since 1992.
CHICAGO is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) as a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points since 1992.
CHICAGO is 55-83 ATS (-36.3 Units) in all games where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points since 1992.
CHICAGO is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 1-0 against the spread versus TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 1-0 straight up against TAMPA BAY over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

TULANE (2 - 1) at HOUSTON (0 - 0) - 10/8/2020, 7:30 PM

Top Trends for this game.
TULANE is 99-131 ATS (-45.1 Units) as an underdog since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 1-1 against the spread versus TULANE over the last 3 seasons
HOUSTON is 1-1 straight up against TULANE over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

NCAA FOOTBALL INJURIES
Last Updated: October 7, 2020 8:08 44 AM

NFL FOOTBALL INJURIES
Last Updated: October 7, 2020 8:59 04 AM