The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars will face off in Week 3 of the NFL preseason tonight. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The game will broadcast live on NFL+.
The Buccaneers are favored by 1.5 points with the over/under set at 35.5 total points. Tampa Bay is a 59¢ favorite to win outright, while Jacksonville is at 42¢ to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Buccaneers vs. Jaguars predictions and NFL picks for Friday, August 28.
My Buccaneers vs Jaguars Prediction
- Buccaneers vs Jaguars pick: Jaguars to Win (46 Cents)
My Buccaneers vs Jaguars best bet is for the Jaguars to win, with the best price currently available at Kalshi. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.
Buccaneers vs Jaguars Odds
Buccaneers vs Jaguars NFL Preseason Preview
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Preview: Undefeated Preseason?
The Buccaneers have looked very impressive in each of their preseason matchups, having prevailed in two nail-biters over the Jets and Chiefs, respectively.
The Bucs completely overhauled their entire roster and coaching staff this past offseason, hiring former Oklahoma State QB Zac Robinson to take over as the team’s offensive coordinator following two years with the Falcons in the same capacity.
Robinson was just one of several maneuvers made within the Buccaneers coaching staff, also bringing in Danny Smith to take over as special teams coordinator.
In addition to their coaching staff overhaul, the Bucs bolstered their defense in the NFL Draft by selecting Miami EDGE rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the 15th overall pick.
In addition to Bain, Missouri OLB Josiah Trotter and Miami CB Keionte Scott were two more vital additions the Bucs made to the team’s defense in April’s Draft.
Head coach Todd Bowles, who is largely praised for his prowess as a defensive schematic specialist, adds a pair of new linebackers to the squad, with Alex Anzalone and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Tampa also signed DL A’Shawn Robinson, which will add another massive defensive presence playing alongside Pro Bowl DT Vita Vea.
While the Bucs were extremely active in regards to making some defensive improvements in the offseason, the same can not be said of its offense, losing both WR Mike Evans and RB Rachaad White to free agency.
Tampa's offense was fortunately able to re-sign TE Cade Otton in addition to having brought in former Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell, who rushed for over 500 yards and five TDs in 2025.
WR Emeka Egbuka and RB Bucky Irving enter the 2026 NFL season with expectations of heavy usage for a Buccaneers offense led by QB Baker Mayfield following a stellar 2025 campaign.
Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Preview: Building from Last Season
The Jaguars had a relatively quiet offseason following a remarkable season in Liam Coen's first season as head coach.
After losing RB Travis Etienne to the Saints in free agency, Jacksonville turned to second-year RB Bhayshul Tuten to replace him. They also signed former Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez to a two-year deal.
In addition to a now-loaded backfield, Jacksonville is stacked at WR as well, with Brian Thomas Jr. looking to bounce back after a sophomore letdown last season, and Parker Washington is drawing rave reviews during training camp.
The addition of Jakobi Meyers last season from the Raiders also greatly opened up the Jags offense, forming a three-headed monster at receiver.
Jacksonville returns the majority of its elite 2025 defensive unit, having re-signed both CB Buster Brown and EDGE rusher Dennis Gardeck on multi-year extensions.
Coen’s Jags have split their first two preseason contests and will host Tampa Bay on Friday evening as both teams look to conclude their respective 2026 preseason schedules on a positive note.
Jacksonville is a slight 46% underdog on Kalshi to defeat the Buccaneers in both teams’ Friday night 2026 NFL Preseason finale.
Buccaneers vs Jaguars Prediction, Betting Analysis
While I am pretty high on both of Friday’s opponents heading into the 2026-27 NFL season, I have been unbelievably impressed by a Jaguars franchise whose stock is on the rise after a monster 2025 season and two victories to kick off the team’s preseason schedule.
Though I think the odds are relatively fair with the Bucs having prevailed in each of the team’s first two games, I prefer the Jaguars side on Friday night in what could be a prime betting spot for the home underdog to prevail.
Pick: Jaguars to Win (42 Cents)
