Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) at Miami Dolphins (3-5) :WagerWeb Entertainment

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) at Miami Dolphins (3-5)

13 November 2009 73 views No Comment

It took a return to the Bucco Bruce orange uniforms and a very good performance by rookie QB Josh Freeman in his first NFL start for the Bucs to become the final team to win a game this season as they upset Green Bay. And on Sunday they try to keep alive a three-game winning streak over their southern rivals, which dates to 1991.

At 21, Freeman became second-youngest quarterback to win first NFL start since 1970. He threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns to become the first QB to throw three TD passes in his first NFL start since Tony Banks did so for the Rams in 1996. But playing on the road is a whole different animal.

Miami has a young QB of its own in Chad Henne. In his first two starts this season, the Dolphins won both as he completed 70.8 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions. The three games since, however, have not gone as smoothly. He is completing just 53.8 percent of his passes with one touchdown and two interceptions as Miami has lost two of three.

Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown has been held under 50 yards rushing in each of past three games and is averaging 2.9 yards per carry during that span. He squares off for the first time as a pro against former Auburn backfield mate Cadillac Williams, who was selected a few spots behind Brown at the top of the 2005 draft.

The Fins are a different club at home. They are averaging 16.8 ppg on the road (1-3) but are 2-2 at home and averaging 31.5 points per game at home — fourth-highest of any team in the NFL.

WAGERWEB.COM ODDS

Dolphins -10 (Miami is -500 on the money line); over/under: 43

APPROXIMATE PUBLIC LEAN

55 percent on the Dolphins

INJURY REPORT

(OUT – Definitely will not play; DNP – Did not practice; LIMITED – Limited participation in practice; FULL – Full participation in practice):

BUCCANEERS: DNP: WR Antonio Bryant (knee), QB Byron Leftwich (right elbow), DE Stylez G White (shoulder). LIMITED: G Davin Joseph (ankle), CB Aqib Talib (hamstring). FULL: WR Michael Clayton (knee), RB Clifton Smith (knee). DOLPHINS: DNP: LB Joey Porter (knee), G Justin Smiley (shoulder), DE Paul Soliai (ankle), LB Erik Walden (hamstring). LIMITED: TE Anthony Fasano (hip).

TEAM RANKINGS

BUCCANEERS OFFENSE — OVERALL (28), RUSH (25), PASS (23)

BUCCANEERS DEFENSE — OVERALL (29), RUSH (30), PASS (15)

DOLPHINS OFFENSE — OVERALL (23), RUSH (4), PASS (29)

DOLPHINS DEFENSE — OVERALL (22), RUSH (5), PASS (28)

TRENDS

* Buccaneers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.

* Buccaneers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in November.

* Buccaneers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.

* Buccaneers are 19-9-1 ATS in their last 29 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.

* Buccaneers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.

* Buccaneers are 2-8 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.