One team is coming off a win thanks to a solid defensive effort, while another team got wrecked a week ago. The Los Angeles Rams hosted the Seahawks in week 2 in a 9-3 win for the Rams. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went to Arizona and left with a 40-7 loss. This week, the Bucs are back home to host the Rams.

We have seen two sides of the Rams defense this year. Week one the team was on the road, and they gave up 28 points. Then last week at home, they held Seattle to a mere field goal. So which defense will show up this week on the road? Offensively, the team has been the same both weeks. What I mean by that is they have been brutal, as the team has yet to score a touchdown. The fact that Todd Gurley has yet to get going is a key reason for that, as he essentially is their entire offense. I fully expect this to be the week Gurley finally gets his engine running.

The Bucs will be without running back Doug Martin this week. He has not had any monster games in the first two weeks, so the team may not miss him all that much while he is out. Meanwhile, the club does get to come home for the first time this season. They opened the year with a high-powered attack in Atlanta, only to falter in Arizona last week. But I think last week’s game was more to do with the Cardinals waking up as opposed to the Bucs overachieving in one week. So I am looking for a bounce-back performance from the Tampa offense this week.

The Bucs enter as five-point favorites, which seems about right. The club certainly has more overall firepower on offense compared to the Rams, and Mike Evans is in line for a very nice day. I simply cannot pick the Rams because of that offense, in particular on the road. This game could certainly tell us a good amount of both clubs this season. I expect Gurley to break out, but it will not be enough for the Rams in this one.

Line: TB -5, O/U: 41.5 

Pick: Bucs and the over

Result: LA 37 – TB 32, Rams and the over

To see the spreads and over/under for each week two match-up, make sure you head over to our master sheet right here!