Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Arizona Cardinals Betting Preview

Typically entering Week 16 of the long NFL season and two teams with a losing record meeting is inconsequential. That’s not true for this particular game when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Arizona Cardinals at 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It is a Christmas Day edition of Sunday Night Football.

The Buccaneers (6-8) still lead the NFC South by a game, despite going 3-6 in their last nine games. However, the Cardinals (4-10) have been eliminated from contention and have both Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy out at quarterback.

The Buccaneers are favored by 7.5 points with an over/under of 40. Tampa Bay is -375 on the moneyline, while the Cardinals are +300.

Buccaneers Need to Win

It has been a difficult second half of the season for the Buccaneers, and they cling to the divisional lead. Really, it is their offense that needs to be consistently better.

The Buccaneers are 28th in scoring 17.6 points per game and have the worst rushing offense in the league, only gaining 74.3 yards per contest. They are 18th overall in gaining 342.7 yards per game and are fourth in passing with 268.4 yards per game. They are 17th with 18 giveaways.

Defensively, the Buccaneers have been one of the better units. They are 10th in allowing 20.6 points per game and seventh in allowing 314.7 yards of offense per game. They are fourth against the pass, allowing 194.5 yards per game, and 17th against the run, allowing 120.2 yards per game. They are fourth worst with only 13 takeaways.

With a lengthy injury list, getting Antoine Winfield Jr., Keanu Neal, Carl Nassib, and Vita Vea back would be huge for a defense that has lost its depth.

Show what Cards Have Got

It has been a difficult season for the Cardinals, and it may be Kliff Kingsbury’s final season leading the organization. Although they did lose Murray after handing him a significant extension, other injuries have hampered units.

The offense is 18th in scoring 20.9 points per game and 21st in gaining 327.1 yards per game. They are 18th in passing for 215.4 yards per game and 20th in rushing for 111.8 more. Their 18 giveaways are 19th.

Defensively, the Cardinals are last in the league, allowing 26.6 points per game, and 20th in giving up 351.9 yards per game. That includes ranking 23rd in allowing 237.6 yards passing per game. They are 15th with 17 takeaways.

Buccaneers/Cardinals prediction

The Buccaneers are 3-8-1 as favorites this season, including 0-3 by a touchdown or more. The Cardinals are 5-6 as underdogs. Overall the Bucs are 3-10-1 against the spread and 4-10 on over/under. The Cardinals are 6-8 against the spread and 8-6 on over/under.

Playing in a dome won’t have weather as an impact, so Tampa Bay’s passing attack should be the best unit on the field.

Dunkel Index: Buccaneers -7.5, Over 40

See more of Dunkel Index's NFL picks here.