Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Miami Dolphins Prediction, Odds and Picks for Sunday, 12/28/25

Hard Rock StadiumFOX
Buccaneers
7-8
Buccaneers
Sun Dec 28
Dolphins
6-9
Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
Google News

Buccaneers vs Dolphins Pickswise Expert Predictions

Point Spread Pick
TB Buccaneers -5.5(-110)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be desperate to halt a 3-game losing streak when they visit the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 of the NFL season on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes will end if it loses this weekend and Carolina wins. The good news for the Bucs is that Carolina is going up against Seattle; even better news for the Bucs is that Miami is terrible. Tampa Bay should hold up its end of the bargain on Sunday — and probably with ease. My Buccaneers vs Dolphins prediction is for the visitors to win and cover.

This matchup should be just what the doctor ordered for Baker Mayfield and company to get back on track. The Dolphins have given up 36.5 ppg over the past 2 contests, including 45 to the Bengals this past weekend. Miami’s defense is #26 against the run and #26 in yards per pass attempt allowed. In other words, the unit is pretty much terrible in both departments. It has also made just 7 interceptions — tied for 24th most in the league. Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka and Bucky Irving should all be relatively productive.

Miami enjoyed a brief 4-game winning streak from completely out of nowhere, but that was clearly an aberration as opposed to the rule. Head coach Mike McDaniel’s team started the season 1-6 and it has returned to its losing ways over the past 2 weeks. The Fins fell to Pittsburgh 28-15 and then got humiliated 45-21 by the Bengals at home in Week 16. That marked the first NFL start at quarterback for Quinn Ewers after Tua Tagovailoa got benched. In 2 appearances as a pro, Ewers has zero touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. Miami has lost those games by a combined margin of 76-27. Although my faith in the Bucs is low these days, they should win this game by default.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Miami Dolphins prediction: Buccaneers -5.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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Game Totals PickBest Bet
Under 45.5(-110)

Keep in mind that offensive success for the Bucs is all relative. They have scored more than 20 points in a game only once since Week 11, and that was a modest 28-point performance in a home loss to the Falcons. Mayfield has reached the 200-yard passing mark just once since Week 10. Some of Tampa Bay’s skill-position players are back, but WR Chris Godwin Jr. is questionable and the offensive line is still banged up (Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke are also questionable). That is part of the reason why Buccaneers vs Dolphins pick is Under 45.5.

Of course, the biggest reason to expect a low-scoring affair this weekend is because Miami’s offense is involved. You can’t fault McDaniel for benching Tagovailoa, but it was more like a necessary evil rather than a move that is going to actually pay off immediate dividends. The offense wasn’t clicking with Tagovailoa at the helm; it has been even worse with Ewers. Obviously the sample size is small, but there is no reason to think it will get any better these last 2 week of the season. The Dolphins’ only real chance is to run the ball with De’Von Achane, but Tampa Bay ranks #7 in the NFL against the run.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Miami Dolphins prediction: Under 45.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 43.5.

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Ricky Dimon

Since graduating from Davidson (The College That Stephen Curry Built), I have been writing about sports -- just about any and all you can think of! -- and coaching tennis in Atlanta, GA. Beyond the four major sports, I am an avid tennis fan and cover the ATP Tour on a daily basis. If I'm not busy writing, you can generally find me on a tennis court or traveling the world wherever a sporting event takes me. For Ricky Dimon media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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