Lions vs. Buccaneers: TV Info, Over/Under, Spread and Final Pre-Game Prediction

It's hard to think of two young teams more on the rise in the NFC than the Lions and Buccaneers. Tampa Bay came out and shocked everyone by racking up 10 wins against in a tough NFC South division. Oddly enough, it was the Lions who served the Bucs a loss in a must-win game last season.

Now that the Lions finally have a healthy Matthew Stafford under center, Detroit is hoping to undergo a season much like the Bucs saw last year. Tampa Bay is looking to redeem themselves from the last time these teams squared off, in what could be the closest matchup of Week 1.

This might be Ray Lewis' last game against the Steelers in Baltimore. With future Hall of Famers littering the field, this game is too close for even Vegas to call. Five of the last six times these teams have squared off in the regular season, the game has been decided by a field goal.

Opening day features the most physical game of the season between two teams that could be on their way to a Super Bowl run. The battle for AFC North supremacy could be decided in Week 1.

Note: Betting Lines According to Bodog

TV Info: 1:00 PM EDT, Fox

Over/Under: (43)

This was the total for the game last year, but it took until overtime to hit 43. This could easily turn into a shootout between Stafford and Freeman, and despite defensive upgrades, the offenses involved in this game should have no problem excelling.

Spread: (Detroit +1)

This is the kind of game where you take the team who is getting the points. Both could easily make their case for being favored, but given the way the Lions handled the Bucs a season ago, adding Stafford into the mix makes the Lions an easy pick here.

Final Pregame Prediction:

Lions 27, Bucs 24

This game isn't going to be a blowout by any means. Both teams have talent all over the field, and given the way this game played out last season, it's impossible to say one team is going to blow the other away. Then again, the Lions have their franchise quarterback under center now and Tampa Bay hasn't gone through significant enough changes to assume they are going to be able to pull it together in Week 1 against the Lions.