The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals will face off in NFL Week 1. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The game will be broadcast live on FOX.
The Bengals are favored by -3.5 with the over/under set at 50.5 total points. The Bengals are a -205 favorite to win outright, while the Buccaneers are +172 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Buccaneers vs Bengals predictions and NFL picks for Sunday, September 13.
Buccaneers vs Bengals Predictions
- Chris Godwin 50+ Receiving Yards
- Kenny Gainwell Over 20.5 Rushing Yards
- Chase Brown 30+ Receiving Yards
Parlay Odds: +684
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Buccaneers vs Bengals Odds
| Buccaneers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -105 | 50.5 -112o / -108u | +172 |
| Bengals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -115 | 50.5 -112o / -108u | -205 |
Buccaneers vs Bengals Week 1 Preview
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will have a fully healthy cast, with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins expected to play. Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, will be left with a weakened receiving group that’s also tasked with filling the hole left behind by Mike Evans.
Chris Godwin 50+ Receiving Yards (+102)
While the Buccaneers’ receiving room boasts plenty of young talent and promise behind Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan, Godwin has quietly flown under the radar.
I mentioned a weakened receiving group: McMillan is doubtful for Week 1 against Cincinnati and while Egbuka is expected to play, he’s nursing an injury of his own.
It’s difficult to put too much stock in reports coming out of training camp, but Tampa Bay has been raving about Godwin. Now more than a year removed from his ankle fracture, this feels like the perfect buy-low spot for Baker Mayfield’s top target.
Godwin started looking more like himself toward the end of 2025, posting 1.88 YPRR from Weeks 13-18, per FantasyPtsData.
This game also has the potential to turn into a shootout, with both Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow more than capable of airing it out. The Bengals ranked 26th in passing yards allowed per game last season, and while they made an effort to bolster the defensive line, the secondary could remain an issue.
This number is simply too low for Godwin, who could realistically see double-digit targets in Week 1.
Tampa Bay should find itself in plenty of passing situations, and Godwin now has both his chemistry with Mayfield and, perhaps most importantly, his health working in his favor.
Kenny Gainwell Over 20.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
One of the biggest trends we’ve seen through Week 1 has been teams leaning on split backfields. Players like Kaelon Black and George Holani saw more work than expected, and that same opportunity could be there for Gainwell.
There’s a reason Tampa Bay brought in Gainwell. With McMillan sidelined and the receiving corps already dealing with injuries, we could even see more two-RB sets with Gainwell working alongside Bucky Irving. Third-string running back Sean Tucker is also doubtful for the season opener.
While Gainwell is primarily known for his work in the passing game, he’s no stranger to handling carries. Last season, he logged five or more carries in eight of Pittsburgh’s final nine games and ripped off a run of at least 10 yards in 13 of his 18 appearances.
Irving will undoubtedly handle the majority of the workload, but this number feels a little too low for Gainwell in what could be a split backfield. I’m expecting Tampa Bay to get creative offensively, and Gainwell should be a key part of that game plan.
Gainwell is no longer an under-the-radar threat, and there’s a reason the Bucs signed him to a two-year deal. Expect him to be involved early and often in Week 1.
Chase Brown 30+ Receiving Yards (+105)
Brown established himself as one of the premier running backs in the NFL last season, and he should only continue to improve following a career year in 2025.
Brown is dynamic on the ground, but he’s also become an elite safety valve for Burrow. Last season, he topped 1,000 rushing yards while adding nearly 450 yards through the air.
I expect this game to be one of the highest-scoring matchups of the week — and the books agree, with the 50.5-point total sitting as the highest on the slate.
The Bengals are no strangers to shootouts, and Brown is exactly the type of pass catcher who can turn a little bit of space into an explosive gain. Over the final 10 games of last season, Brown recorded at least 30 receiving yards six times.
Having Chase and Higgins on the field should only help his cause. Brown may not command the same target share with both receivers healthy, but their presence should open up the middle of the field and give him more room to operate against Tampa Bay's linebackers.
It was clear Cincinnati made a concerted effort to get Brown more involved down the stretch last season, and there’s no reason to expect that role to suddenly change.
Buccaneers vs Bengals Predictions, Same-Game Parlay
- Chris Godwin 50+ Receiving Yards
- Kenneth Gainwell Over 20.5 Rushing Yards
- Chase Brown 30+ Receiving Yards
Parlay Odds: +684
