Sorry about being a little late this week, but here it is.
Welcome again to Predict The Score. Congratulations again to Buc2, who has had the unusual fate to come closest twice in the first four weeks of the season, let alone two weeks in a row. However, the first time he declined the win as he'd predicted a loss. This time, he won predicting a win right before the bye week. 26-9
The season standings are therefore as follows:
Week 1: Jonny, Predicted Bucs 20 Vikings 17, 0 points off. Whoa!
Week 2: Doooshnzl, Predicted Bucs 28, Bears 17, 1 point off, winning the tiebreaker over Kaimaru and Bootz (so close!)
Week 3: acmillis, Predicted Bucs 14 Eagles 26, 4 points off.
Week 4: Buc2, Predicted Bucs 23, Saints 13, 7 points off.
This week, the Bucs host the NFL's latest feel-good team, the Detroit Lions. The Bucs are favored by 3 [edit: LIONS are favored by three in our house], so it's a wash [not] on the betting lines. But the news coverage is anything but even. We're still considered a fluke, and maybe we are, but I also don't forget how in the days of the NFC Central division, both our fanbases notched a W on the predictions for our two games a year.
The NFL schedulers gifted the Eagles a semi-bye with their playing on a Thursday night one week and Monday night the next, an 11 day gap. And they kicked our asses, yes. With the national Lions love, I am really glad that we're hosting the Lions after our bye week rather than the other way around. I of course think our Bucs can and will win, but that's what this contest is about, head vs. heart. I always choose heart, but my head thinks we should win, too. We shall see.
Today's double tiebreaker is as follows. First tiebreaker is total sacks by both teams. Second tiebreaker is total passing yards by Baker Mayfield.
I'll begin.
I'm still going full Bucball even though I shouldn't. Back to the Black and Blue, I say.
Tampa Bay 13, Detroit 10.
Your turn.
