We’re slowly approaching the second half of the NFL season, and Week 8 will commence with this inter-conference duel in the Sunshine State, so make sure you don’t miss out on the best Ravens vs. Buccaneers betting pick and odds.

Tampa Bay is desperate to avoid the fifth defeat in six games when they host Baltimore at Raymond James Stadium. The Ravens are slight -1.5 favorites on MyBookie Sportsbook, while the total is set at 45 points. These inter-conference rivals will meet for the first time since 2018.

Ravens managed to hold on this time and get a win

The Baltimore Ravens (4-3, 2-4-1 ATS) are playing a lot of tight and exciting games this season, and the latest one against the divisional rivals Cleveland Browns was one of them. After losing 24-20 to the Giants, the Ravens bounced back with a 23-20 home victory thanks to a sturdy defense and possession (34:04-25:56).

Lamar Jackson completed nine of 16 passes for 120 yards and had 59 yards on the ground on ten attempts. Gus Edwards recorded a pair of rushing TDs and ended the tilt with 66 yards on 16 carries, while Devin Duvernay and Rashod Bateman each chipped in with 44 receiving yards. The Ravens’ defense registered five sacks; Justin Houston was credited for two of them, while Patrick Queen had a game-high 11 tackles and added a sack.

DT Michael Pierce (biceps), J.K. Dobbins (knee), Marcus Williams (wrist), and CB Kyle Fuller (ACL), and are unavailable to play on Thursday against Tampa Bay. G Ben Cleveland (foot), WR Rashod Bateman (foot), RB Gus Edwards (knee), and TE Mark Andrews (knee) are questionable.

Buccaneers succumbed to another ugly loss

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, 2-5-0 ATS) cannot stop losing at this point and they are looking awful, which is not even the worst word to describe them. The Bucs were on the losing end of four of their last five games, but the most recent 21-3 defeat was rather painful as it came against the divisional foes Carolina Panthers, who just traded Christian McCaffrey away and entered the rebuild. That was the worst offensive performance from Tampa this season.

The Buccaneers’ run offense wasn’t a factor again as it recorded 46 yards on 16 attempts, so Tom Brady had to throw the ball frequently. He completed 32 of 49 passes for 290 yards, but for the first time this season, Brady failed to record a passing touchdown. Mike Evans posted a game-high 96 yards on nine receptions (15 targets), while Cade Otton was right behind him with 64 yards on four catches. Defensively, Lavonte David led Tampa Bay with seven tackles.

CB Logan Ryan (foot), C Ryan Jensen (knee), RB Giovani Bernard (ankle), DT Akiem Hicks (plantar fasciitis), G Aaron Stinnie (knee), and T Josh Wells (calf) are all out. TE Cameron Brate (neck), WR Russell Gage (hamstring), CB Carlton Davis III (hip), S Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion), and WR Julio Jones (knee) are questionable to take on the Ravens on Thursday.

Trends:

Baltimore:

•            5-2 ATS in the last seven games following an ATS loss

•            18-8-1 ATS in the last 27 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game

Tampa Bay:

•            1-8 ATS in the last nine Thursday games

•            0-5 ATS in the last five games overall

•            0-4 ATS in the last four home games

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick  

We rarely see Brady failing to record a passing touchdown, and after that occurred in Carolina, I don’t think it’ll happen again on Thursday. Still, I don’t expect much from Tampa Bay’s limited offense (sounds funny, limited, with Brady under the center and all of the offensive talents he has around him) which averages just 17.1 points per game. Baltimore’s defense is not what it used to be, but the Ravens still have enough quality to fend off Brady and the Bucs. Lamar Jackson will have to use his read option at the highest level, which will be required considering the Buccaneers’ rock-solid defense. I am picking Baltimore’s offense over Tampa’s in this one.

Pick: Take the Ravens at -1.5 (-110)

The Total

Both teams have been participating in a lot of low-scoring games this season, and after that horrendous offensive display against the Panthers, I don’t think Tampa Bay is capable of playing a high-scoring game. Unless, of course, the other team scores 40+ points against them, which will not happen, although it did happen once this year (Kansas City). With the way the Ravines are playing, keeping possession for as much as possible, I can’t see a classic shootout here. Under is 5-1 in the previous six H2H duels; Under is 4-0 in Baltimore’s last four games overall, while Under is 6-1 in Tampa Bay’s previous seven games overall.

Pick: Go Under 46.5 points (-135)