The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face another top NFC contender in Week 10 when they play host to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 10 at Raymond James Stadium. The 49ers are coming off a bye week and carry a 4-4 record to Tampa to face the 4-5 Buccaneers, who are trying to snap a three-game losing skid. To find out how to watch, listen and livestream the game, click here.
The expected return of running back Christian McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is an enormous factor in this week's picks by NFL experts. The 49ers already have the NFL's second-ranked rushing attack and many analysts see the addition of McCaffrey putting that over the top and becoming the deciding factor in the game. One expert also sees edge rusher Nick Bosa being a problem for Baker Mayfield
However, there is plenty of praise for how the Buccaneers have played in recent weeks despite their losing streak, and especially in the wake of injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Here's how the analysts at Bleacher Report put it:
"Tampa is in the midst of a three-game losing streak. However, those three losses came to opponents with a combined 20-6 record. Mayfield and Co. have been good at making those games interesting in the fourth quarter. But Monday's performance against the Chiefs may have been the most impressive because Tampa Bay showed it can compete with the league's best, even without its top two wideouts."
The Buccaneers are 5.5-point underdogs at home, in a game that will likely have a major impact in their postseason hopes. A majority of the experts think it won't go in the home team's favor. Here's what some of them are saying:
NFL.com – It's a five-expert sweep, though the Bucs draw praise for how hard they play
ESPN.com – A wild mix of picks from three experts: one SF blowout, one tight Niners win, one Bucs win
CBSSports.com – Pete Prisco sees San Francisco's run game carrying the day
USA Today – Four experts mostly dislike the spread but still pick the 49ers to win
Bleacher Report – Picking against the spread, five of eight analysts go with the Bucs
Pro Football Talk – For the first time in weeks, Mike Florio and Chris Simms agree…on the 49ers
Sports Illustrated – A clean sweep for the 49ers among six analysts
Sporting News – Expert Bill Bender expects a shootout but thinks the 49ers come out on top
