The game on November 10, 2024, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is set to be a crucial one for both squads as they battle for playoff spots. Kicking off at 1:00 PM ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, this matchup showcases two teams having very different seasons.
Team Profiles
San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
The 49ers are sitting pretty at second place in the league for total offense, showing off a well-rounded game that puts them fourth in both rushing and passing yards. They’re also scoring pretty well, coming in sixth with an average of 27 points per game. However, they’ve had some ups and downs, especially with injuries to key guys like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk. If McCaffrey comes back, it could really strengthen their running game, which is a big part of how they play.
The 49ers’ defense is sitting at tenth overall, but they’ve been a bit shaky when it comes to defending the pass, ranking 14th in that area. On the upside, they’ve been pretty good at forcing turnovers, boasting a +4-turnover differential. Keep an eye on linebacker Fred Warner; he’s closing in on the franchise record for passes defensed by a linebacker.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
The Buccaneers just had a tough overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and are eager to break their three-game losing streak. They’ve got the fifth-best offense in the league, with quarterback Baker Mayfield having a stellar season and putting up some great passing numbers. On the flip side, their defense has been a real issue, sitting at 30th overall and having a hard time defending against both the run and the pass.
Injuries have hit the Buccaneers hard, especially with wide receiver Mike Evans likely out again because of a hamstring issue. Tight end Cade Otton has stepped up as Mayfield’s go-to guy, racking up 25 catches for 258 yards in the past three games.
Key Matchups
Offensive Strategy
The 49ers’ offense is all about their exciting playmakers, especially George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. Kittle has been on fire lately, which makes him a key target against a Buccaneers defense that hasn’t fared well against tight ends in the past. If McCaffrey is in the game, his ability to do it all will be super important for opening up the field.
Tampa Bay’s chances of winning really depend on Mayfield’s knack for taking advantage of San Francisco’s defensive flaws. The Buccaneers have been great at pulling off plays with motion, boasting a 57.8% success rate, which could be crucial against a 49ers’ defense that has a hard time handling those kinds of plays.
Defensive Challenges
Tampa Bay’s defense really needs to step up and figure out how to handle San Francisco’s diverse offense. They’ve been struggling to stop big plays, which has hurt them a lot; they’ve given up more than 30 points in their last few losses. To turn things around, Tampa Bay has to improve their coverage and cut down on those yards after catch (YAC), especially since that’s where San Francisco shines.
The San Francisco 49ers are coming into this game as 6-point favorites, thanks to their strong offense and recent performances. The prediction model shows they have a 65% chance of winning, which suggests they can take advantage of any weaknesses in Tampa Bay’s defense.
Sports Betting Ace’s Final Score Prediction: San Francisco 49ers: 30 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 24
This score suggests that San Francisco is likely to take advantage of Tampa Bay’s defensive issues, while Baker Mayfield and his offense will make it a close game but probably won’t be able to overcome the solid 49ers squad.