Tampa Bay Bucs predictions: Who do NFL experts think will win vs. Eagles in NFL playoffs?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a prime chance to exact revenge for an early-season loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Bucs host the reigning NFC champions Monday night in the first round of the NFL playoffs. The two teams aren't exactly firing on all cylinders right now, but one team especially is feeling the pressure to win.

Things are better than expected for Tampa (9-8) after winning its third straight NFC South title, something many experts didn't expect after Tom Brady retired at the end of last season. New quarterback Baker Mayfield had a renaissance in his first season with the Bucs, throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns and getting 1,000-yard receiving seasons from Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Coach Todd Bowles clinched the division title with an ugly 9-0 win over the 2-15 Carolina Panthers.

Though the Eagles (11-6) have the better record, they enter the playoffs in worse form by far. Philly has lost five of its last six games and is on a two-game losing streak to the lowly Cardinals (4-13) and Giants (6-11). Quarterback Jalen Hurts has taken a noted step back after his near-MVP season, and his top receivers, DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, come into the game with injury questions. The losses have some questioning coach Nick Sirianni's job security.

The Eagles did win in Tampa in Week 3, with Hurts throwing and running for touchdowns in a 25-11 win. He did throw two interceptions in that game, though. The Bucs also beat the Eagles two years ago in the wild card round, with Brady's bunch scoring the first 31 points of the game in a 31-15 win.

So who wins Monday's playoff matchup? Here's a look at what NFL experts and analysts are predicting:

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Bucs 24-22

"Jalen Hurts is hurting. A.J. Brown is battling knee woes. The offensive line is banged up. The stout run defense has broken down a bit and the pass defense keeps on reeling, no matter the opponent. The Buccaneers have been a bit all over the place while battling injuries in their own right, but they are due to fire up the passing game well with Baker Mayfield at home.

"The Bucs can make the Eagles' one-dimensional and the zone defense can compress the passing game, especially if Brown is limited or can't go. On the other side, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Trey Palmer have great corner matchups to exploit while Mayfield is kept rather clean playing off Rachaad White's running."

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Bucs 27-24

"The Eagles are limping into the playoffs having lost five of their last six. They haven't come close to looking like the Super Bowl team from a year ago. The Bucs played better down the stretch, although they did lose to the Saints two weeks ago at home. Even so, I expect Baker Mayfield to play better against an Eagles defense that has struggled. Look for a big game from Mike Evans. The Bucs will pull off the upset."

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Eagles 21-13

"Neither team has looked great in recent weeks. The Eagles are the better team. They should win. If they don’t, the Eagles will have plenty of soul-searching to do."

Dan Parr, NFL.com: Eagles 22-20

Of the five NFL.com pickers, only Ali Bhanpuri went with the Bucs.

"I know it's the playoffs, but this has the feel of a consolation game," Parr wrote. "The Eagles last looked like contenders in November. They are stumbling into the postseason. Yet, there is still so much to like, at least on paper, which is why I continue to pick them. And this could be the right draw for Nick Sirianni's collapsing crew. That might sound odd at first, considering Tampa Bay has won five of its last six games. But let's not overlook that the Buccaneers were soundly defeated at home by the mediocre Saints two weeks ago and failed to score a touchdown last week in a division-clinching 9-0 win over the Panthers, who finished with the worst record in the league.

"Philadelphia's vulnerability against the pass is no secret, but will a banged-up Baker Mayfield be able to take advantage? I'm not saying he will, but I wouldn't rule it out -- and the Eagles have injury concerns of their own."

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Eagles 28-19

"The Eagles have lost five of their past six games, and they have a -8 turnover ratio in that stretch. The Buccaneers won five of their past six games and had a +4 turnover ratio. If Baker Mayfield gets hot, then Tampa Bay could put the Eagles out here. A.J. Brown (knee) also will need to be watched throughout the week. Jalen Hurts' first playoff career start at Tampa Bay did not go well two years ago. In another game where fourth-down calls could be interesting, Philadelphia (73.0%) and Tampa Bay (66.7%) have the top two percentages. The Eagles bounce back, but it's a risky pick given their injuries."

John Breech, CBS Sports: Bucs 23-16

"These teams are both headed in the wrong direction, and when that's the case, it's almost impossible to make a pick. The Eagles are 5-1 this year when they rush for 140 yards or more, but I have a hard time seeing them hit that number against a Buccaneers defense that surrendered the fifth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL this year.

"The Eagles have hit rock bottom so many times this year that they're basically living there, and if you're living at rock bottom, I can't pick you to win."

Chris Simms, Pro Football Talk: Eagles 27-20

Bucs-Eagles odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, January 11.

• Spread: Eagles (-3)

• Over/under: 43.5 points

• Moneyline: Eagles -160, Bucs +135

When is the Bucs game?

• Time: 8:15 p.m. Monday, January 15

• Place: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

The Bucs vs. Eagles playoff game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. Monday, January 15 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

What channel is Bucs vs. Eagles on?

• TV: ABC, ESPN (Channel 206 on DirecTV, Channel 140 on Dish)

• Streaming: WatchESPN and the ESPN app (TV provider subscription needed), fuboTV (7-day free trial), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial)

Bucs-Eagles will air on ABC and ESPN. Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst) will be in the booth with Lisa Salters as sideline reporter.

Streaming options include fuboTV, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Bucs schedule

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Bucs vs Eagles predictions: NFL experts pick playoff game