Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions Prediction and Picks – Monday, October 20th, 2025
Use Code SSWC The first game on Monday night goes down in Michigan, so check in with our Buccaneers vs. Lions predictions before kickoff. Tampa Bay (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) kept their good vibes rolling with a 30-19 win over the 49ers at home last weekend as -3 favorites. Detroit (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS) was +2.5 underdogs in Kansas City but lost, 30-17. Ford Field is the setting, and kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 EST. If you need more quality winners, this is the ultimate site for NFL Picks.
Buccaneers keep on trucking
The Buccaneers come into the weekend with the best record in the NFC and a two-game winning streak. Last weekend, they kept the Niners to three first-half points as they pulled away. The Tampa Bay offense went for 352 yards and 19 first downs in the win, while the defense forced two turnovers and allowed only 15 first downs.
The Bucs offense is averaging 27.5 points and 353.5 total yards per game on the year, both 12th in the NFL. They’ve leaned a bit more on the pass, ranking seventh with an average of 244.2 yards per game. Baker Mayfield threw for 256 yards in the win over San Francisco and on the year, he is fourth in the league with 1,539 passing yards and has 12 TDS, 1 INT and 158 rushing yards. He has been sacked 10 times thus far. His top target has been Emeka Egbuka with 42 catches and 469 yards and 5 TDs, but he is dealing with a hamstring injury and his status for this game is uncertain. The team averages 109.3 yards in the rushing game each week, led by Bucky Irving with 237 yards.
Tampa Bay’s scoring defense ranks 24th in the NFL, allowing 25.2 points per game. They are 14th in yardage allowed, giving up 319.5 per game. Against the run, they rank fifth in the league, allowing 88.2 yards per game. Versus the pass, they are 21st, giving up 231.3 a game to go with 16 sacks and four interceptions. Jamel Dean has a sack and is responsible for two of the picks, bringing one back for a touchdown. Yay Diaby leads the team with three sacks and is tied for the team lead with five tackles for loss.
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Injury report
- LB Lavonte David (knee/rib) DNP
- P Riley Dixon (personal) full
- WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) DNP
- WR Mike Evans (hamstring) DNP
- WR Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) DNP
- T Luke Haggard (shoulder) DNP
- RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) DNP
- CB Zyon McCollum (thumb) full
- CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) full
- RB Josh Williams (concussion) DNP
Lions’ steak comes to end
After a four-game winning streak, the Lions came out flat in a big showdown versus the AFC heavyweight Kansas City. The team was outscored 17-7 in the second half, and the offense managed to gain just 297 yards with 18 first downs. On defense, they allowed the Chiefs to gain 355 yards, with 22 first downs.
Detroit boasts the second-best scoring offense in the land, averaging 31.8 points per game. They rank 11th in yardage, gaining 353.7 total yards per game, with 225 a game coming via the pass. Jared Goff threw for 203 yards and 2 TDs in the loss against K.C. He has completed 75.9% of his passes, the best mark in the NFL, for 1,390 yards and 14 touchdowns. Goff threw two interceptions and has been sacked nine times. Amon-Ra St. Brown is tied for fourth in the league with 44 catches, is sixth with 452 receiving yards and tied for first with 6 TDs. Both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery rushed for 4 TDs apiece and over 300 yards each.
The team is 18th in the league in scoring defense, giving up 23.7 points a game on average. They are also allowing 308.2 total yards each week, which is the ninth-best mark in the NFL. They are allowing 95.5 rushing yards and 212.7 passing yards per game and they’ve recorded 19 sacks and six interceptions. Jack Campbell is sixth in the league with 56 tackles, with two sacks. Aidan Hutchinson ranks fourth in the league with six sacks and Al-Quadin Muhammed is tied for eighth with 4.5.
Injury report
- S Kerby Joseph (knee) DNP
- CB Avonte Maddox (hamstring) DNP
- RB Sione Vaki (groin) DNP
- CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder) limited
- T Taylor Decker (shoulder) limited
- DE DJ Reader (back) limited
- LB Zach Cunningham (hamstring) limited
- DT Alim McNeill (knee) full
Buccaneers vs. Lions Picks
Spread Pick for Buccaneers vs. Lions
- Lions -5.5 (5 units)
These two met last season in a game the Bucs won by four points as +7.5 underdogs in Detroit. Both teams have looked solid to this point, but Tampa Bay is dealing with a banged-up group at this stage. Mike Evans, who has missed three straight games, did not participate in practice on Friday. Neither did Chris Godwin Jr., who has now missed four games. If Egbuka is out, Mayfield will be in some trouble. He’s navigated without Evans and Godwin, but one more down, especially his top target, would be a lot to handle. The Detroit defense puts a lot of pressure in the backfield, and their run defense can clean up things when Mayfield scoots to the outside. Detroit is 6-4 SU and ATS in the last ten games between the teams.
Take the Lions giving the points.
Over/Under Pick for Buccaneers vs. Lions
- Over 52.5 (5 units)
The teams tallied a combined 36 points when they met last season, hitting well under the 51.5-point total. This time around, the matchup features two of the top six scoring offenses in the league against two bottom-half defenses. Passing has been the way for both sides, for the most part, but Detroit has more of a running game in its arsenal. The Lions scored 34 points or more in each of their four wins this season. Tampa Bay put up at least 25 points in each of their last four games and 30 or more in their last two. Offense tends to take center stage when the lights shine brighter. Between the two teams, the over is 7-5 this season.
Take the over.
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