The New York Jets (0-2) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) face off in NFL Week 3. Kickoff is set for in 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 21, from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game will broadcast live on FOX.
The Buccaneers are 6.5-point favorites over the Jets on the spread (Buccaneers -6.5), with the over/under set at 43.5 total points. Tampa Bay is a -320 favorite to win outright while Jets are +260 to pull off the upset.
The Jets enter Week 3 without the services of Justin Field and will hand the keys to the offense to veteran Tyrod Taylor. The Bucs and Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, keep finding ways to win early in the season after topping the Texans on Monday Night Football.
Let's get into my Jets vs Buccaneers prediction in my NFL Week 3 preview below.
Jets vs Buccaneers Prediction
- Jets vs Buccaneers pick: Jets +6.5 (-110)
My Buccaneers vs. Jets best bet is on New York to cover the spread, with the best price currently available at bet365. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Jets vs Buccaneers Odds
| Jets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -110 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | +260 |
| Buccaneers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -110 | 43.5 -110o / -110u | -320 |
Jets vs Buccaneers NFL Week 3 Preview
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has helped his team escape with victories on the final drive in of each of the first two games, but regression in the turnover department is likely on the horizon.
Through the first two weeks of the season, Mayfield leads the entire NFL in turnover-worthy plays yet he still hasn't thrown an interception or lost a fumble. Mayfield's had six potential interceptions dropped thus far — it's getting pretty absurd.
Last week, he even let the ball pop out of his hands in the Bucs' backfield, but one of his teammates managed to recover it. Tampa Bay has been incredibly fortunate so far this season.
In addition to all that, the Buccaneers have also seen some favorable officiating. They are living a charmed life so it's not surprising to see them at No. 1 in this week's Luck Rankings. This is where team records become misleading and luck tends to play a factor — the Jets should be 1-1, and the Bucs very well could be 0-2 or 1-1.
Also throw in the fact that Tampa Bay is on a short week and Mayfield got banged up in last week's win. We don't know exactly how mobile he's going to be after hurting his knee at the end of his latest outing.
If Mayfield isn't 100% healthy, he might not be able to scramble as much, which is important if the Jets decide to run Cover 1 and blitz again.
Mayfield is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Bucs' injury concerns though.
Calijah Kancey is out for the year. On the offensive side, they're still short-handed at receiver (Emeka Egbuka is questionable) and Tristan Wirfs is still out up front. Luke Goedeke could miss some games. Cody Mauch might be out as well. It looks like they might be down three offensive line starters.
They don't even know what they're going to do with the offensive guard spot yet and they have to figure out all this on a short week?
Sounds like it could be a recipe for disaster.
Jets vs Buccaneers Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Jets will be without QB Justin Fields in this game, as well as LB Jermaine Johnson, but I still can't get to a touchdown difference in this spot.
Taylor is the backup quarterback you want to have if you need to cover a spread of a touchdown. Hopefully head coach Aaron Glenn changes things up this week.
The Jets were so predictable on both sides of the ball last week; Glenn said he's going to go back to the drawing board — we'll see.
It's really tough to run the ball against the Bucs, but I trust Taylor to command the offense and move them down the field methodically. Taylor is also pretty careful with the football.
All things considered, this line is too high. The Bucs were very fortunate to escape with wins in their first two games, and there is probably some turnover regression looming for Mayfield, who might not be 100% healthy.
Pick: Jets +6.5 (-110)
Spread
My Buccaneers vs. Jets betting prediction is on New York to cover the spread at +6.5.
Moneyline
Although I am taking the Jets to cover the spread, I'm not interested in the moneyline market.
Over/Under
I'm also staying away from the total in this matchup.
