NFL Week Three Trends - Tampa Bay vs. Chicago

Jeff Garcia, the Buccaneers starting quarterback, may or may not play on Sunday. He feels that he’s okay. Coach Jon Gruden doesn’t. In any case, the Bucs solidified themselves as a team on the rise in the NFC by dominating the Atlanta Falcons. Granted it was Atlanta but online football betting fans had to love how the Bucs, with second string quarterback Brian Greise under center, just took it to the Falcons.

They dominated the Dirty Birds in every phase of the game. The Bucs covered against the online wagering spread in the Falcons’ game. Against the Saints a week earlier, they barely lost against the spread. The Saints beat the Bucs by four in that game. The NFL online betting spread was 3 ½.

The Chicago Bears have been very good against the online NFL betting spread so far this season. It’s only been two games but they shocked the mighty Indianapolis Colts in the first week of the season even though they were 10 ½ point dogs in that game. They won the game straight-up. The Bears then pushed in their second game of the season against the Carolina Panthers.

Here are the BetUS online sportsbook betting odds for this game:

Kick-off: 9/21/2008 1:00 pm est.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers + 3 ½ - 110 + 135 O 35 ½ - 110

Chicago Bears - 3 ½ - 110 - 155 U 35 ½ - 110

Here are a few online wagering trends that might help us find a good online bet in this game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2 and 5 in their last 7 games on the road.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 1 and 4 against the spread in their last five games versus a team from the NFC Conference.

The Chicago Bears are 4 and 9 against the spread in their last 13 games at home.

The Under is 4 and 1 in the last 5 meetings between these two teams.

Both the Bucs and the Bears sport great defenses. Because of that the BetUS online wagering over/under of 35 ½ points appears fair, right?

Not really. Both teams boast great defenses and so-so quarterbacks. With Kyle Orten back there for the Bears and possibly Brian Greise back there for the Bucs, both defenses might have a chance to put some points on the board. It sounds crazy but often times when two great defensive teams meet the online betting over/under tends to go over.

It’s one of those strange things in the NFL. But I’m not going to worry about the BetUS online betting over/under at all.

Instead, my online bet is going to be on the Bears at – 3 ½ in this game. I expect the Bears to force the Bucs into a few turnovers. That should allow Orten and the offense to put some points on the board.

That’s the online wager that I will be making - - on the Bears to cover the 3 ½ points.