This Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round matchup features this season’s second meeting between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) and Los Angeles Rams (12-5). Los Angeles won the first game by a score of 34-24 at home back in Week 3, but that seems like a lifetime ago at this point in the season.
While Tom Brady put up yet another MVP-caliber season, the Buccaneers aren’t exactly the model of health as they enter the playoffs. Brady still has Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski at his disposal, but he’s without two key offensive cogs from earlier this season in Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown.
Matthew Stafford is also without two top weapons in Darrell Henderson Jr. and Robert Woods, but the Rams have since added Odell Beckham Jr. and Cam Akers to their offensive array.
Who will win this showdown between two potent offenses and advance to the NFC Championship Game? Let’s dig in to find the best Rams vs Buccaneers prop bets for this weekend’s NFC Division Round battle.
Please note that all NFL gameday odds and lines are current as of 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, January 20.
Rams vs Buccaneers Prop Bets: NFL Divisional Round Prop Betting Picks
Over 5.5 Total Touchdowns (-115) at Caesars
Simply put, these teams both put points on the board. The Bucs were second in points this season at 30.1 per game, while the Rams finished seventh at 27.1.
Both offenses are coming into this game hot as well. Tampa Bay has scored at least 28 points in eight of its last nine games, while Los Angeles has done so in five of its last eight. There’s a good chance both clubs threaten 30 points here, which brings us back to this prop.
Six touchdowns might sound like a lot, but we’re really only looking for three per team. With the way both offenses have been clicking lately, that’s entirely within reach.
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Matthew Stafford: Over 280.5 Passing Yards (-115) at Caesars
While Stafford struggled a bit towards the end of the season, he still finished with 4,886 passing yards — 343 of which came against Tampa Bay during Week 3.
The Bucs rank middle-of-the-pack in passing yards per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks (253.1), but they’re also one of the best run-stuffing teams in the league. That means the Rams are going to have to attack them through the air, which isn’t a bad strategy when you have the likes of Beckham and Cooper Kupp in your receiving corps.
- Read more of our NFL Divisional Round Prop Bets
In a potential shootout where both teams end up throwing a lot, Stafford should approach 300 passing yards.
1st Team To Turnover: Rams (-117) at Caesars
I’m not sure whether to consider this a vote of confidence in the Buccaneers’ defense or if it’s just doubting Stafford due to his recent interception spree.
Tampa Bay tied for fourth in the NFL in takeaways during the regular season with 29, so we already know this is an opportunistic defense. Meanwhile, Stafford tied for the league lead in interceptions with 17, 13 of which have come since Week 9.
That’s a dangerous combination for the Rams.
Brady, on the other hand, is much more careful with the football and threw just 12 interceptions despite leading the league in pass attempts. Over his last six games, he’s been picked off only twice.
While turnovers can be tough to predict, there’s a good chance Stafford gets intercepted before Brady in this game.
Check out more of our Rams vs Buccaneers Predictions
Rob Gronkowski: Over 5.5 Receptions (-130) at Caesars
Wager: 1 Unit
With all of the aforementioned injuries and losses to the Bucs’ passing game, Brady’s main options have become limited to Evans and Gronkowski.
Gronk has been a huge part of Tampa Bay’s offense this year, drawing at least eight targets in nine of his 13 games this season. Brady has looked his way even more often lately, showering him with double-digit targets in three of the last five games
With Brady’s passing tree turning more into his circle of trust during the playoffs, Gronkowski is likely to see double-digit targets again this weekend. With at least five catches in three straight games, Gronk is a good bet for the Over here.
Tom Brady: Over 291.5 Passing Yards (-115) at Caesars
Wager: 1 Unit
Let’s end with the GOAT for our NFL bet of the day.
Brady led the league in completions, pass attempts, and passing yards this season, so we’ve got that going for us. He also lit up the Rams for a season-high 432 passing yards back in Week 3.
LA allows an average of 260 passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, which is ninth-worst in the league. And since Tampa Bay is dealing with all sorts of uncertainty in the running game, they’re going to have to rely on Brady’s arm to pull out a win here.
While this prop is about 10 yards higher than I’d like, I still think anything under 300 is worth our time.
