Friday night’s NFL preseason slate features the New York Jets hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The matchup comes just two days after the teams wrapped up a pair of competitive joint practices in New Jersey that produced several standout performances – and more than a few heated moments.
The Jets enter their preseason opener with a little more incentive to get their regulars on the field. Head coach Aaron Glenn has indicated that his starters will play Friday night, giving Geno Smith his first live game action since returning to New York. Glenn is using the preseason to get a roster with several new pieces comfortable in new systems, while rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik should also see meaningful snaps as he competes with Bailey Zappe for the backup job.
One of the biggest storylines for New York will be rookie edge rusher David Bailey. The No. 2 overall pick has been one of the team’s most impressive players throughout training camp and looked the part during the joint practices with Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay’s approach to tonight’s game will be a bit different. Head coach Todd Bowles is expected to rest most of his established starters, including Mayfield, after getting extended work against the Jets during the joint sessions. With Jake Browning also unavailable, quarterbacks Jalon Daniels and Connor Bazelak are positioned to handle much of the offensive workload in the preseason opener.
The Buccaneers also got an encouraging look at former Miami Hurricane and first-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. during the practices. Tampa Bay selected the edge rusher 15th overall in April, and he has quickly emerged as one of the standouts of camp. Bain’s work has already given Bowles plenty to evaluate, and the rookie is not expected to see a heavy workload Friday night as the Buccaneers shift the focus toward younger depth pieces and players competing for roster spots.
Buccaneers vs. Jets Odds Today
With fewer betting markets available during the NFL preseason, the main options at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook center on the spread, moneyline and game total. New York enters Friday night as a 6.5-point home favorite:
- Moneyline: Buccaneers +230, Jets -300
- Spread: Buccaneers +6.5 (-110), Jets -6.5 (-110)
- Total: Over 34.5 Points (-115), Under 34.5 Points (-105)
Buccaneers vs. Jets Betting Splits
Here’s how players at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook are targeting tonight’s preseason clash:
- Tampa Bay is drawing the majority of moneyline action with 61.7% of the bets and 61.6% of the handle, compared to 38.3% of tickets and 38.4% of the money on New York.
- The Buccaneers are also the more popular side against the spread, accounting for 79% of tickets. The money is less one-sided, however, with Tampa Bay receiving 59% of the handle.
- Bettors are leaning toward a higher-scoring game, with the Over taking in 62.4% of the bets and 55.1% of the money.
Buccaneers vs. Jets Game Info
- đź“Ť Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- đź“… Date: Friday, August 14
- ⏰ Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
- đź“şđź’» TV/Streaming: NFL Network
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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