Tampa Bay vs. Oakland

[X21AAAPlayer]

Early predictions? Im picking Tampa Bay to take home the championship for the first time ever :D

[Keith7]

I'm goin for Tampa.. they really impressed me this week against the eagles.. kinda a sad loss cuz Philidelphia has been my favorite team since i was a kid when i used to live up there..

[Bellville22]

I predicted this matchup at the beginning of the playoffs, should be a classic. The best offense in the league against arguably the best defense in a long while. I'm gonna go against the "defense wins championships" saying and take Oakland 20-16.

[RBARKER]

If Tampa Bay can move the ball like they did against Philly's D then Oakland is in trouble. On the other side I believe that Tampa's Defense will out shine Mr. Gannon's Offense. Final Tampa bay 35 Oakland 21.

[Jacket2000]

Ive noticed something about both of these teams in the playoffs. Tampa Bay likes to jump out to a lead and then play "bend but dont break" for the rest of the game(ie: jumped ahead of SF and then just held the Niners off). Oakland on the other hand seems to start off slow and then runs away with it in the 2nd half(ie: Played NY and Tennesse very close in the first half then blew'em out in the 2nd). So, since it is my thinking that games(and championships) are won in the 2nd half, Im picking Oakland.
J2K

[cunbed10]

Da Raiders will win :p

[topdawg]

i think my boys from tampa are going to win by about 6.

[whtfbplaya]

ok all da way

[sinton66]

The Raiders are too much for Tampa. Even Rice should have a big day. If Oakland can keep down the penalties, I don't see this game being close.

[slpybear the bullfan]

Tampa all the way in a big win. It won't be as close as everyone is saying...

Give me the 'Bucs by 14.

[spaniard]

i agree with slpybear, i think that the bucs are being underdogged too much, and i think they will come out and surprise everyone, except for the people going for them.

[SintonFan_inAustin]

Tampa Bay 16 Oakland 14

Low scoring game with Bucs FG's winning it at the end. eek!

[pirate4state]

Tampa Bays runs away with this one early on but they get lax late in the 3rd ... Oakland tries to make a run for it (Buc fans...sweating) but come up short. Defense wins Championships. Go Sapp, Rice, Brooks, Ronde & Lynch. This week Lynch will have the big game (like Ronde had last week).

Bucs 33
Da Raiders 27

<small>[ January 23, 2003, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: pirate4state ]</small>

[turbostud]

I am picking Tampa Bay. Gannon is not as mobile as McNabb so if the front 4 of Tampa can get to him and force some turnovers, Tampa wins.

[crzyjournalist03]

This is the matchup that I've predicted all season long. Now it's here, and I don't know how it's going to turn out. I'm going with Oakland in this one, but I don't know if it will be a defensive struggle or an old-fashioned shootout, so I'll offer two score predictions:

If it's defensive:
Oakland 20
Tampa Bay 17 (OT)

If it's a shootout:
Oakland 31
Tampa Bay 28

[Phil C]

I think the key matchup will be Oakland's Defense against Tampa Bay's offense. I predict Oakland will win because they won their first regular season game and Tampa Bay lost their first regular season game. Usually most super bowl winners have won their first regular season game even though their have been exceptions.

[TarponFanInNorthTexas]

I foresaw this matchup also. And I really can't predict the winner, but here's how I feel about what may happen.

Offensive shootout - Oakland 31, Tampa Bay 27

Defensive struggle - Tampa Bay 14, Oakland 10

[pirate4state]

pirate4state:
Tampa Bays runs away with this one early on but they get lax late in the 3rd ... Oakland tries to make a run for it (Buc fans...sweating) but come up short. Defense wins Championships. Go Sapp, Rice, Brooks, Ronde & Lynch. This week Lynch will have the big game (like Ronde had last week).

Bucs 33
Da Raiders 27Bucs 48
Da Raider 21

Off by just a tad wink

[turbostud]

OK Pirate4state, if we are patting ourselves on the back reread my earlier post. I didnt pick a score but my post speaks for itself.

[pirate4state]

turbostud:
I am picking Tampa Bay. Gannon is not as mobile as McNabb so if the front 4 of Tampa can get to him and force some turnovers, Tampa wins.http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons/35.gif Good Call, turbostud wink