WINFO #12

GREG DEMPSON
What do The Beatles
and the Buccaneers
by Greg Dempson
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
What do The Beatles and the
Buccaneers have in common?
The correct answer is the
number ”64.”
The British Invasion began in February
of ’64 with The Beatles inaugural
performance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
That opened the floodgates for The
Rolling Stones, The Who, The Animals
and so many other British acts. In 1967
Paul McCartney wrote and sang lead
on the Beatles hit, “When I’m 64,” with
the group making more than a few
“Bucs” with that hit record!
The Buccaneers are currently at B–
minus 64 and counting and I’m hoping
they are –45 on the negative side
when this 4:05 ET start goes final! In an
amazing mark of futility, Tampa Bay has
produced a record of 19–44–1 ATS in
their last 64 home games. Recent form
has Tampa at 1–4 straight up and ATS
as a host this season plus in the past
three years, they are a feeble 6–15 ATS
at Raymond James Stadium.
To make matters worse they are
catching Seattle at a bad time as the
Seahawks are finally healthy and it has
certainly showed the past three weeks
as they won outright two weeks ago at
Foxboro vs. the Patriots, (31–24,) and
then followed up that impressive victory
by defeating the Eagles (26–15.)
In their past three contests Seattle is
averaging 29.33 PPG. On the other
side of the ball, their stop unit boasts
the stingiest defense in the league as
they’re allowing an average of 17.3
PPG, (16.2 when on the road.)
View From the Sidelines
• In the second half of the season
Seattle’s head coach Pet Carroll is
15–0 ATS vs. bad defensive teams
who allow 24 or more points per
game. The average score in those
15 contests is Seattle 33, opponents
11.8.
• Carroll is also 11–1 ATS vs. poor
passing defenses that allow 7 or
more passing yards per attempt in
the second half of the season.
Quarterback Comparisons
• Jameis Winston is 4–9 ATS when
starting at home.
have in common?
More than you’d think
• Russell Wilson is 20–11 ATS when
facing a foe that allows between
22.9 to 28.9 PPG with the Seahawks
winning by an average margin of
12.1 PPG.
• Winston’s quarterback rating is 75.2
when a home underdog while Wilson’s
rating is 99.4 as a road favorite
• Buccaneers cornerback Brent
Grimes might be on the sidelines,
not a good situation for a defense
that has to defend Jimmy Graham.
The Wilson-to-Graham show has
resulted in 197 receiving yards and
three touchdowns in their last three
games, (all wins and covers,) and
I also note the Seahawks are 18–3
straight up in November the past
three seasons as well as 16–5 ATS.
Last week’s selections and
This Weeks Pick
My selection on the Seahawks won
last week and I’m now 1–1 ATS in the
NFL. My College pick on Duke lost and
I’m 0–2 with my College plays.
With Wilson being healthy that eases
pressure on Seattle’s offensive line
plus Wilson and Graham are finally
developing chemistry. I’m laying
–5.5 at –116 and backing the Seattle
Seahawks and hopefully when the gun
sounds I won’t be singing that Beatles
classic, “I Should Have Known Better!”
Good luck this week!
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