Lions Look to Catch Bucs Napping

Football Betting Lines

11/21/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With three division games looming in the distance, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are doing their best not to look past the Detroit Lions. With Detroit winless in 10 games this year, that figures to be easier said then done.

Tampa Bay, which will be without leading rusher Earnest Graham, visits the Motor City this weekend to take on their former division rivals at Ford Field.

At 7-3 after last weekend's 19-13 win over Minnesota, the Buccaneers find themselves a game back of first-place Carolina in the NFC South. Tampa Bay also owns just a one-game edge over third-place Atlanta, with last-place New Orleans another game back.

Tampa is heading into a crucial moment of its schedule, as it will host New Orleans on November 30 before back-to-back road tests against Carolina and Atlanta. However, the Buccaneers must first get past the Lions, a club they once shared residency with in the NFC Central.

The Bucs joined that division back in 1977, where they stayed until realignment in 2002. Tampa Bay has won all three of its games this year against its former rivals of what is now the NFC North, defeating Chicago, Green Bay before last week's 19-13 win over the Vikings.

Getting past the Lions appears to be an easy chore. Not only has Detroit lost 17 of their its 18 games dating back to last year, but Tampa Bay's 24 wins over Detroit is more than it has against any other team in the league.

Tampa will have to overcome one hurdle, as Graham landed on injured reserve due to a right ankle injury suffered on his first and only carry against the Vikings. Graham leads the team with 563 rushing yards on the season in addition to four touchdowns.

The Lions return to Detroit for the first of three straight home games, though the club is 0-4 at Ford Field this year and has yielded 36.3 points per game as the host.

Ford Field was the sight of the Lions' last win, however, a 25-20 victory against Kansas City in Week 16 of the 2007 campaign.

Detroit is coming off a 31-22 setback in Carolina as it was torched by the Panthers' ground game. However, the Lions did improve in one area, as they held the ball for 34 minutes and 17 seconds to win the time of possession battle.

The Lions rank near the bottom of the league in that category, averaging just 26:50 of offensive time per game this year.

Detroit is the NFL's lone winless team and will try to avoid going 0-11 for the first time since 2001, when it lost its first 12 games en route to a 2-14 finish.

SERIES HISTORY

The Lions have a 27-24 lead in their all-time regular season series with the Buccaneers, including a 23-16 home victory when the teams met in Week 7 of last season. Tampa Bay had won six of the previous seven head-to-head meetings, with its most recent triumph a 17-13 home victory in 2005, and its most recent win in the Motor City a 23-20 victory in 2002.

In addition to the regular season series, the teams have met once in the postseason, with Tampa Bay securing a 20-10 home victory in a 1997 NFC First- Round Playoff.

Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden is 2-1 all-time against the Lions. Detroit's Rod Marinelli, who served as an assistant with the Buccaneers from 1996 to 2005, is 1-0 against both Gruden and Tampa Bay as a head coach.

WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL

The Bucs will have a different look on the ground this weekend with Graham sidelined. Twelve-year veteran Warrick Dunn (476 rushing yards, 1 TD, 26 receptions) took most of the carries versus Minnesota, rushing 12 times for 53 yards. Tampa Bay figures to be getting reinforcements in the backfield soon, as Carnell "Cadillac" Williams was activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list but was inactive versus Minnesota. He hasn't played since suffering a career-threatening patellar tendon tear in his right knee on September 30, 2007. Williams, who was the NFL's 2005 Offensive Rookie of the Year, is considered doubtful for this game, and the team signed ex-Packer Noah Herron on Wednesday. Tampa Bay got its lone touchdown last weekend on a one- yard run by fullback B.J. Askew, with kicker Matt Bryant hitting two of his four field goals in the fourth quarter. The Bucs will continue to try to use a balanced attack, as they rank ninth in the league with 351.6 yards per game, getting 115.1 of those yards on the ground (14th overall). Quarterback Jeff Garcia (1618 passing yards, 5 TD, 3 INT) threw for 255 yards versus Minnesota and didn't turn the ball over, while tight end Jerramy Stevens (21 receptions, 1 TD) had one of his most productive games of the season with a team-high six catches and 84 yards. Fellow tight end Alex Smith (19 receptions, 3 TD) missed last week's game due to a sprained ankle and was limited in practice this week. Wideout Antonio Bryant (50 receptions, 2 TD) added five receptions for 59 yards against the Vikings and Dunn had four catches for 65 yards.

Dunn and company should get a chance to test their wheels this Sunday. The Lions are giving up 401.7 yards per game on defense, ranked 31st in the NFL. They are also yielding 171.1 yards on the ground every weekend, dead last in the league. Detroit, though, managed to surpass that total in Charlotte, as Panther running backs DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart combined for 250 rushing yards. The Lions failed to post a sack in the game, though they did create a turnover in the form of a Leigh Bodden (48 tackles, 1 INT) forced fumble that was recovered by linebacker Paris Lenon (65 tackles, 1 sack). The defensive unit, already without safety Dwight Smith (29 tackles) for a fourth straight game due to a foot ailment, was minus defensive ends Jared DeVries (28 tackles, 2 sacks) and sack-leader Dewayne White (37 tackles, 5.5 sacks) against Carolina. DeVries was out due to a hand injury, while White, a former Buccaneer, sat out because of a calf ailment. White did not practice when the team resumed on Wednesday, while DeVries was limited. Safety Daniel Bullocks (66 tackles) was Detroit's leading tackler against Carolina with seven stops, while Lenon added six.

WHEN THE LIONS HAVE THE BALL

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper (311 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) made his second straight start for the Lions since signing with the club, and unlike his Detroit debut, took every snap under center. In playing against Jacksonville two weekends ago, the 31-year-old was relieved twice by backup Drew Stanton, but Culpepper completed 20-of-35 pass attempts for 207 yards last weekend. He was also picked off twice and ran in a score, though his 29-yard touchdown pass to wideout Calvin Johnson (45 receptions, 7 TD) in the first quarter marked the first time all season the Lions have scored on their opening drive. The Lions, though, couldn't win the turnover battle, giving the ball up a total of four times. Though Detroit ranks 31st in the NFL in rushing offense (80.9 ypg), rookie Kevin Smith (513 rushing yards, 5 TD) had his first 100- yard game by posting 112 yards on 24 carries. One of three rookie backs who leads their team in rushing yards and touchdowns this season, he figures to get the bulk of the carries again this weekend with Rudi Johnson (217 rushing yards, 1 TD) battling a knee ailment. Detroit will also keep an eye on Calvin Johnson, who is questionable because of a quadriceps injury and did not practice early this week. With little to gain this year, the Lions won't play the sophomore wideout unless he is healthy. He made six catches for 65 yards against the Panthers, while Shaun McDonald (29 receptions, 1 TD) had three for 30 yards.

Though the Buccaneers have shined against the pass this year, allowing just 182.2 yards per game, it was their rushing defense that came through last weekend. Tampa Bay held Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson to just 85 yards, marking the ninth time in its 10 games this year the club held a team without a 100-yard rusher. However, when the Vikings tried to go to the air, the pass rush was there, as Tampa posted a season-high five sacks. Linebacker Barrett Ruud (79 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INT) posted a team-high eight tackles and had a sack, while defensive linemen Jimmy Wilkerson (15 tackles, 2 sacks), Kevin Carter (25 tackles, 3 sacks), Chris Hovan (29 tackles) and cornerback Ronde Barber also got to the quarterback once each. The Bucs have held opponents to just 16 points per game, fourth-best in the NFL. Rookie corner Aqib Talib is tied for the lead among NFL rookies with three interceptions, but hasn't picked off a pass in three games. Barber (41 tackles, 2 sacks), meanwhile, needs just seven tackles to tie Hardy Nickerson for second on the club's all-time list with 1,028 stops.

FANTASY FOCUS

No doubt, Dunn's value has skyrocketed due to Graham's injury. He now becomes Tampa Bay's best option in the backfield and will see plenty of room in front of him against the Lions. Dunn also has three touchdowns in his last four games versus Detroit. Garcia remains a safe option at quarterback and garners sleeper value due to the matchup. Though Stevens had a solid game last week, the possible return of Alex Smith hinders his value at the tight end spot. Antonio Bryant should also have a solid game, with the Bucs' defense is worth a look as well.

The Lions showed some offensive life, though Culpepper is still far from fantasy-starter worthy. His rushing touchdown was nice to see -- except by Kevin Smith owners -- but he also turned the ball over and could be without Calvin Johnson. Speaking of which, Johnson owners need to have a backup plan ready, as the Lions won't risk further injury to their franchise receiver. With Rudi Johnson hobbling a bit, Smith should see the bulk of the carries yet again, and those attempts should remain high if Detroit can again hold the ball.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Buccaneers need to be very careful in avoiding the dreaded "trap" game this weekend with three division tests up next. Being on the road will help them come in focused, but letting the Lions get off to quick start could make things tough. An injury to Calvin Johnson could push Detroit's offense back a step after it showed life last week, and Tampa Bay should consider itself lucky if he isn't on the field this weekend. The Bucs can't afford a loss in the Motor City, something Gruden, a veteran coach, knows.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Buccaneers 23, Lions 10