Buccaneers vs Colts Preseason Picks and Predictions: Brady Bunch

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Indianapolis Colts in their third and final preseason game of 2022. Neither team has earned a win in exhibition play so far, but the home team is favored by three points against Tom Brady and Co.

With most of Indy’s starters — with the exception of running back Jonathan Taylor — scheduled to play most of the first half, the Colts have an excellent chance of securing a win before heading into Week 1 of the regular season.

Read below for our best free NFL picks and predictions for Buccaneers vs. Colts in the final week of preseason play.

Buccaneers vs Colts odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Colts opened as 5.5-point home favorites at most books, but the line has moved in the Bucs’ favor, landing at three points by Friday. The total opened at 38.5 at a majority of sportsbooks and has increased to as much as 41.5.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full NFL odds before placing your bets.

Buccaneers vs Colts predictions

• Prediction: Colts -3 (-105)
• Prediction: Over 41 (-110)
• Best bet: Colts -3 (-105)

Predictions made on 8/26/2022 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Buccaneers vs Colts game info

• Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Date: Saturday, August 27, 2022
• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: DAZN

Buccaneers at Colts betting preview

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Betting trend to know

Colts head coach Frank Reich is 7-3-1 against the spread overall in the preseason and 2-1 ATS in preseason Week 3 action. Find more NFL betting trends for Buccaneers vs. Colts.

Buccaneers vs Colts picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

Brady is back after an 11-day approved absence from the team and will play at least a series in the final warmup to the regular season, according to head coach Todd Bowles. The seven-time Super Bowl winner, now in his 23rd NFL season, has taken the field in every third preseason game since 2008, but with an offensive line depleted by injuries, Bowles would be wise to limit the 45-year-old’s game action.

Center Ryan Jensen is out indefinitely with a knee injury, Tristan Wirfs is day-to-day with an oblique strain, and guard Aaron Stinnie tore his ACL and MCL in last week’s preseason game against his former team, the Tennessee Titans. Brady will want to get accustomed to the replacements on the O-line before Week 1, but he’s not going to overdo it and risk injury ahead of what will likely be his final season in the NFL.

Star receiver Mike Evans and new addition Russell Gage both have been dealing with hamstring issues and are unlikely to compete for long on Saturday, which gives Indy more of an advantage, as the Colts starters are slated to play for the entire first half.

Quarterback Matt Ryan was out on the field in preseason Week 1, in a 27-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and completed six of 10 passes for 58 yards, albeit against Buffalo’s second-string defense. He sat out the one-point loss to the Lions in Week 2, while third-stringer Sam Ehlinger and undrafted rookie QB Jack Coan did the brunt of the work in the passing game.

Ehlinger has looked sharp in his first two preseason matchups, going 10 of 11 passing for 88 yards and two scores in Week 1 and 9 of 11 passing for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Week 2. Second-string QB Nick Foles has been decent, as well. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 72 yards and tossed one touchdown and an interception against the Bills, then went 5 of 6 for 56 yards without a touchdown or interception in one series against the Lions.

The Bucs' offense has been led primarily by second-year signal caller Kyle Trask, who did better (25 of 33, 258 yards, one TD, one INT) in a 26-24 defeat to Miami in preseason Week 1 than he did in last week’s 13-3 setback to Tennessee. On the road against the Titans, Trask connected on 11 of 24 passes for 105 yards and threw an interception that led to a touchdown with under two minutes in the first half. Trask was also sacked four times for a loss of 37 yards.

The Florida product is likely to get the most time behind center in preseason Week 3, as well. So far, he’s attempted 57 of the Bucs’ 67 preseason passes, with backup Blaine Gabbert seeing limited action but proving himself the surefire No. 2 QB.

Ehlinger has much more at stake in Week 3. There isn’t a guaranteed spot on Indy’s roster, so he’ll be looking to demonstrate his value, either to the Colts or another team watching who could be open to picking him up. Receiver Dezmon Patmon will also try to build upon his 103-yard, one-touchdown outing last game to attempt to move ahead of rookie Alec Pierce on the depth chart.

Considering what’s on the line for these players, the significant game action Indy’s starters will see, and how close the Colts have been to a win in the preseason, they should finally get over the hump at home against Tampa Bay.

Prediction: Colts -3 (-105 at DraftKings)

Over/Under analysis

The Over is 3-1 in Tampa Bay’s last four preseason games overall, but last week against Tennessee, the only points by the Bucs came on a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter. Fifteen of the Bucs starters were sidelined, and the offense failed to convert on its first nine third downs. Tennessee outgained Tampa Bay 255-174, ran for 138 yards without Derrick Henry’s help, and scored 10 points off a Trask fumble and interception before halftime.

Tampa Bay’s offense had a much better showing in Week 1 against Miami’s backups and recorded 22 first downs and 389 yards of offense, but still committed a pair of costly turnovers.

The Colts defense has surrendered a total of 701 yards across both preseason contests, so Tampa Bay should find it much easier to get on the board in this matchup. Brady will help the Bucs get off to a fast start, while Indy’s starters should rack up enough points before halftime to help push the score Over 41 points.

Prediction: Over 41 (-110 at bet365)

Best bet

There have been no joint practices between Indy and Tampa Bay leading up to Week 3 of the preseason, but Brady reportedly “was on fire” in his return to the field, and Ryan did well when running through end-of-game scenarios at the Colts’ practice earlier this week. Both starting offenses should come out swinging, but it’s unlikely Tampa Bay will keep its starters out too long in the preseason finale.

The Colts hold the upper hand and have been far less turnover-prone in their first two preseason matchups. Once the backups come in, Ehlinger and Coan will outduel Trask, who’s been up and down through the first two weeks.

Indy will come away with a decisive win in front of its home crowd and walk into its meeting with Houston in Week 1 feeling plenty confident.

Pick: Colts -3 (-105 at DraftKings)

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