Bruce Arians retired from coaching at the end of 2017, but it took just one season in the booth to convince him to return to the sidelines. Arians took over for Dirk Koetter in Tampa Bay and will look to be the third Buccaneer coach to have a winning percentage over .400. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019ll have his work cut out for him. Despite various periods of hype, the Bucs have the NFL\u2019s worst record over the last seasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 49ers have had their own struggles. Since Jim Harbaugh left at the end of 2014, they\u2019ve had three coaches and haven\u2019t won more than six games in a season. They\u2019re also recovering from their own hype issues after entering 2018 as favorites to win the NFC West and ending it with the second pick in the draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Granted, part of their failures were due to Jimmy Garoppolo\u2019s torn ACL in Week 3. Garoppolo appears to be fully recovered, though his doubters would say he\u2019s not completely back to normal after a shaky preseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garoppolo has never faced the Bucs, but he does have one career start against Arians. That was his first career start in 2016 when he filled in for the suspended Tom Brady. The Patriots beat Arizona on the road, 23-21, and Garoppolo completed 24 of 33 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Arians went 6-0 against San Francisco in the post-Harbaugh era. Against the 49ers\u2019 current coach, Kyle Shanahan, Arians was 3-1 ATS and left Arizona on a three-cover streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jameis Winston remains Tampa\u2019s starter and Arians is the most successful head coach he\u2019s had. This game could be the beginning of the long-awaited leap for Winston. Unfortunately, he could be without star receiver Mike Evans. Evans was added to the Friday injury report and is questionable due to an illness. Arians said a bug has been going around the Tampa locker room and the symptoms are usually gone within 24 hours. Still, late-week additions to the injury report are always a cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s also unclear how the Florida heat will affect Evans\u2019 illness. Weather services expect a humid afternoon with a high of 92 degrees. One would think the Bucs would thrive in such an environment, but recent history suggests otherwise. Since 2012, the Bucs are 4-7 ATS in September home games. They\u2019re 1-2 ATS in games Winston started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 49ers lost to the Bucs 27-9 when they visited Tampa last season, but this time they\u2019ll have reinforcements. On top of Garoppolo\u2019s return, Kwon Alexander is set to start against his former team after tearing his ACL in Week 7 of last season. The additions of Dee Ford and Nick Bosa should help 49ers improve their sack totals after finishing tied for 22nd in the league with 37 in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The line has fluctuated over the last week, with roughly equal time to given San Francisco -1, Tampa -1 and pick \u2018em. In other words, if the general \u201chome field is worth three points\u201d rule is to be believed, the 49ers would be favored by three or four on a neutral field and six or seven at home. That\u2019s a lot of respect for a team that was one of the league\u2019s worst last season, regardless of who\u2019s returning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
San Francisco to Tampa is one of the longest trips an NFL team can make. Though the 49ers won\u2019t have to deal with the dreaded 10 am PT start time, they will have to deal with the weather. The 49ers are certainly trying to prepare<\/a>, but there\u2019s no substitute for the real thing. The Bucs kick off the Arians era with a win and a cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n