The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Cincinnati, Ohio, to take on the Bengals in an NFC vs. AFC Week 1 matchup at Paycor Stadium. Both teams missed the playoffs in 2025 and will look to start their seasons on the right foot as they aim to return to the postseason.
The Buccaneers were 6-2 heading into their Week 9 bye last season, but after a tough three-game stretch coming out of it against New England, Buffalo, and the Los Angeles Rams that resulted in three losses, Tampa Bay won only two more games and finished the season with an 8-9 record. The offense will look a little different without longtime wide receiver Mike Evans, who’s now in San Francisco, meaning veteran Chris Godwin Jr. and second-year wideout Emeka Egbuka will have to step up for quarterback Baker Mayfield in new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s offense.
The Bengals, meanwhile, are looking to get back to being one of the AFC’s top contenders with a healthy Joe Burrow returning after missing nine games in 2025 due to a severe Grade 3 turf toe injury. While Cincinnati’s offense features plenty of firepower with the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Chase Brown, and Tee Higgins, it’s the defense that could make or break this team in 2026. Cincinnati had the second-worst-ranked defense last year, including the league’s worst-ranked run defense, but made notable additions to the unit, including Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, and second-round edge rusher Cashius Howell, who enters his rookie season generating some buzz.
Keep reading for Buccaneers vs. Bengals predictions, picks, and odds for Sunday’s Week 1 matchup in Cincinnati.
Buccaneers vs. Bengals Odds
The Bengals enter the 2026-27 NFL season with considerably high expectations, and Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists Cincinnati as the home favorite for Week 1:
Buccaneers vs. Bengals Predictions
The Stats Hub at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook offers football betting insights and trends to provide more information on teams and players and help inform wagers, such as our Buccaneers vs. Bengals prediction below:
Bengals vs. Buccaneers Best Bet: Chase Brown Over 23.5 Receiving Yards (-120)
Chase Brown may be a running back, but he’s one who also excels in the passing game. The fourth-year back caught 69 passes for 437 yards last season, and he really started to become a threat in the second half of the year, totaling 311 receiving yards from Weeks 9 through 18, including an eight-catch, 75-yard performance against Chicago in Week 9.
The Buccaneers’ pass defense wasn’t their strong suit in 2025, and with Tampa Bay already having to devote plenty of attention to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Brown could become a go-to target for Joe Burrow throughout Sunday’s game.
While it’s not quite 23.5 yards, the Stats Hub notes that Brown has recorded 18 or more receiving yards in each of the Bengals’ last eight games as home favorites.
- Bengals vs. Buccaneers Player Prop Pick for Sept. 13: Chase Brown Over 23.5 Receiving Yards (-120)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for TB-CIN
The anytime touchdown markets are attracting the most action among player props, with Ja’Marr Chase’s prop leading the way:
- Ja’Marr Chase – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- Chase Brown – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- Emeka Egbuka – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- Bucky Irving – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
- Tee Higgins – Over 0.5 Anytime Touchdowns
Buccaneers vs. Bengals Betting Splits
Here’s how the action is trending at Hard Rock Bet for Sunday’s Week 1 matchup in Cincinnati:
- The Bengals are attracting more moneyline support with 69.3% of bets and 57.8% of the handle.
- The Buccaneers are receiving more support on the spread with 55.5% of bets and 52% of the handle.
- The Over is generating 51.4% of bets on the total, but the Under accounts for 61.1% of the handle.
Buccaneers vs. Bengals Game Info
- š Where: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
- š Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
- ā° Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET
- šŗš» TV/Streaming: FOX
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Referenced odds are subject to change.
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