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Bet $1 on TB vs. PHI and get $100 in free bets*

BetMGM is offering a special promotion for Thursday night’s game. New customers in AZ, CO, IN, IA, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV, or WY who bet $1 on Tampa Bay (-7) vs. Philadelphia will get $100 in free bets added to their account.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles

It used to be one of the first clubs in any bettor's bag: Bet on the home underdog in a prime-time game.

That was much more reliable in college football, but it still applied in the pros. There's a rough turnaround for NFL teams playing a Thursday night game. The home team will get a pop from the crowd. Home dogs just feel like the right way to go.

But as we look at the Philadelphia Eagles as 7-point home underdogs at BetMGM on Thursday night, we have to wonder how much that applies anymore.

Home field is all but dead in the NFL. Home teams are 39-41 straight-up and 35-45 against the spread this season, according to Covers.com. This was a trend that goes back to 2019, pre-COVID. Many of us expected home-field advantage to bounce back with fans back in stadiums, but it hasn't happened.

On Thursday nights this season, we have seen five straight road teams cover the spread (Cowboys, Giants, Panthers, Jaguars and Rams). Teams have figured out how to navigate Thursday night games when they're traveling.

Still, it seems like the Eagles are getting too many points tonight. The Buccaneers are one of the most popular teams among bettors due to Tom Brady, the stars around him and Tampa Bay's Super Bowl last season. But Tampa Bay is just 2-3 against the spread this season. They'll be overvalued all season and it's likely their against-the-spread record won't be great. If you're betting Tampa Bay on Thursday night or practically any week, you're paying a tax.

Also, Tampa Bay has some injuries. Their secondary is beat up. Linebacker Lavonte David is out, as is tight end Rob Gronkowski. They still have more than enough talent even without the injured players, but it makes it a little tougher to back them. The Eagles aren't incapable. Jalen Hurts is inconsistent, but he has some very good games.

The Eagles seem to be the right side, and not necessarily because of the old "home underdog on Thursday night" method. It's just a lot of points for a banged-up team to be giving.

-Frank Schwab

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