Buccaneers vs. Jets Prediction: NFL Preseason Picks & Best Bets (Aug. 14)
Geno Smith suits up for the Jets for the first time in nearly a decade as New York hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. My Buccaneers vs. Jets prediction focuses on New York starting its most talented offensive players in this exhibition matchup, while Tampa Bay is sitting Baker Mayfield and others.
Kickoff from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., is set for 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network), with the Jets priced as a 5.5- to 6-point betting favorite.
π Buccaneers vs. Jets prediction: NFL preseason
See the latest NFL odds and our experts' NFL picks for every game this preseason.
| π° Pick | βοΈ Bet size (units) | π§ Why I bet this |
|---|---|---|
| Jets -5.5 (-115 via FanDuel) | 0.3u β 0.26u | Jets will start 1st-team offense, unlike Bucs. |
| Under 35.5 (-105 via DraftKings) | 0.3u β 0.29u | Bucs' offense will struggle being led by two undrafted QBs. |
| Jets Over 3.5 1st-quarter points (+115 via Caesars) | 0.4u β 0.46u | Looking to take advantage of Jets' early offensive talent advantage. |
Total wagered: 1 unit | Max profit: 1.01 units
π Buccaneers vs. Jets game pick: Jets -5.5 (-115)
Follow all of our NFL analysis and betting advice for the 2026 NFL preseason.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that his starters will see the field to open Friday's matchup. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and likely even backup Jake Browning, who injured his back at practice this week. That leaves the Tampa Bay offense in the hands of two undrafted signal-callers: Connor Bazelak and rookie Jalon Daniels.
Gang Green will leverage that early talent advantage to build a lead and cover the 5.5-point spread. FanDuel offers the top value here at -115, but there's value paying up to -120.
Score prediction: Jets 20, Buccaneers 13
🔮 More NFL preseason best bets
The Jets covering the spread is one of LJ Blut's favorite NFL best bets for preseason Week 1.
π° Buccaneers vs. Jets best bet: Jets Over 3.5 first-quarter points (+115)
While I feel good about the Jets' chances in this game, I want to isolate the starter minutes to ensure I benefit from that distinct advantage. That's why targeting New York's first-quarter scoring output is my best bet for the matchup.
By all accounts, Geno Smith has performed well leading the first-team offense in training camp alongside a promising young trio of wide receivers (Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr., Adonai Mitchell). If he leads the Jets on a first-quarter touchdown drive, I cash my bet at Caesars at +115 odds.
π‘ NFL preseason betting strategy
Itβs important not to get carried away with your bet sizes in the preseason. Iβm only betting one unit total across my three favorite wagers for Buccaneers vs. Jets because there is so much uncertainty in the preseason surrounding player snap counts, play-calling, and other variables.
My most confident play (Jets Over 3.5 first-quarter points) received the highest wager at 0.4 units, slightly above my other best bets at 0.3 units apiece. Bankroll management is crucial in sports betting, so be smart with yours.
π Buccaneers vs. Jets odds: NFL preseason
Our live Buccaneers vs. Jets odds update in real time.
π Buccaneers vs. Jets latest injuries
πΊ How to watch Buccaneers vs. Jets: NFL preseason
- Date: Friday, Aug. 14
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
- TV: NFL Network
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