Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Indianapolis Colts
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts are searching for their first win of the preseason when they square off on Saturday night. The Bucs are the visitors once again. They will not play a home game until Week 3 of the regular season.
Tampa Bay has one of the league’s oldest rosters. That usually means many starters rest in the preseason. However, the Bucs have not ruled out Tom Brady or Julio Jones, two of the roster’s oldest players. Indianapolis comes in off a 27-26 loss against the Detroit Lions. The Colts saw several reserve players have huge days.
As division favorites, both squads are expected to make the playoffs. Per NFL lines, the Bucs hold -275 odds to win the NFC South while the Colts are -135 to win the AFC South.
Let’s check the latest NFL picks, stats, injury reports, and NFL predictions for Buccaneers vs Colts. We’ve plenty of NFL expert picks for you to consider.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Will Brady play against Indianapolis? It’s certainly on the table. Remember, the 45-year-old QB returns after an 11-day absence from practice. Brady could need reps to get back into the groove. So far, Tampa Bay is keeping its options open.
Wide receiver Jones has yet to make his debut. He will have an important role to begin the season with Chris Godwin recovering from an ACL tear. Maybe the Buccaneers play more offensive starters against the Colts. The offense comes off a terrible showing against the Tennessee Titans, putting up a measly three points.
Backup QB Kyle Trask struggled with a 41.1 passer rating. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn had a nice night with 54 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Injuries on the offensive line keep coming. Aaron Stinnie, who was competing for starting left guard, sustained a season-ending knee injury.
On defense, Tampa Bay is looking for rotational depth. Starting edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka played well. Linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi had a monster night with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Indianapolis Colts
Keep an eye on two Colts rookies. Wide receiver Alec Pierce has enjoyed a great offseason and is expected to start. Against the Lions, Pierce got limited playing time and snagged one catch. Rookie Nick Cross will likely start at safety. Last game, Cross got substantial playing and made a few nice plays.
Nick Cross breaks up a pass in the end zone for the second week in a row 👀 pic.twitter.com/0E8LwMjMYx
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) August 20, 2022
Sam Ehlinger is battling for Indy’s backup QB spot. He was lights out versus Detroit, going 9 of 11 with a 157.8 passer rating. Starter Matt Ryan is only getting older. Having a promising young backup brings comfort.
If he’s healthy, defensive end Tyquan Lewis will be a key rotational piece. In his return from injury, Lewis had a solid showing with a tackle for loss.
Buccaneers vs Colts Injury Report
Injuries are quickly piling up for Tampa Bay. On the offensive line, Stinnie and Ryan Jensen are out for the season while Tristan Wirfs is questionable. Godwin continues to recover from his ACL tear. Russell Gage and Giovani Bernard are also questionable.
For the Indianapolis Colts, star linebacker Shaquille Leonard is battling a back injury. He could miss time in the regular season. Starting center Ryan Kelly is out after testing positive with COVID-19. Defensive back Isaiah Rodgers is questionable.
Buccaneers vs Colts Head-to-Head
The Bucs have won three of the last five meetings. Last season, Tampa won a high-scoring game 38-31.
Buccaneers vs Colts Game Information
- Game: Buccaneers vs Colts
- Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
- Day/Time: Saturday, Aug. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Buccaneers vs Colts Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
Take a Look at Other Analysis, Picks & Predictions for This Week’s NFL Preseason Matchups
Buccaneers vs Colts Betting Lines
Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | +6 -120 | +190 | 40½-110o |
Indianapolis Colts | -6 Ev | -230 | 40½-110u |
Buccaneers vs Colts Prediction
For the preseason, this is a notable spread. Indianapolis has a favorable matchup as the Bucs deal with many injuries. If players like Brady and Jones play, it will be for a limited time. Trask will get a lot of snaps, which could not end well. The Colts will cover with more depth.