The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4) are making a trip west to visit their NFC South foe New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This critical early afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. ET and FOX will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
This Sunday NFC pairing shows the Buccaneers as the dogs and they’re currently getting 4 points. The Buccaneers are also receiving +150 moneyline odds while the Saints are -170. Multiple good live betting opportunities may be unveiled during the game, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 47.5 points.
Early action has shifted in favor of the Buccaneers. The line originally opened at -6 and the total was initially 47.
Each of these teams has posted a positive return this year as the Buccaneers have gained 2.0 units while the Saints are up 3.0 units.
The Buccaneers have gone 2-2 straight up (SU), including 1-0 SU against NFC South opponents. The Saints are 3-1 SU overall and 0-0 SU versus divisional foes.
The Buccaneers are trying to maintain momentum after a solid 55-40 win over the Rams last week in which Jameis Winston completed 28 passes for 385 yards, four scores and one interception. Ronald Jones II (70 yards on 19 rushes, one TD) mounted the ground attack in the win while Chris Godwin (12 receptions, 172 yards, two TDs) and Mike Evans (four catches, 89 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties.
The New Orleans Saints just earned a 12-10 win over Dallas in Week 4. The defensive unit did its duty in the victory, limiting the Cowboys to only 223 passing yards and 45 yards on the ground. Ezekiel Elliott had a productive showing in the loss, recording a rushing score to go along with 30 yards on six catches for Dallas. For New Orleans, Teddy Bridgewater completed 23-of-30 passes for 193 yards and one interception. Alvin Kamara (69 rushing yards on 17 attempts) mounted the ground game in the win while Michael Thomas (nine receptions, 95 yards) and Josh Hill (three catches, 29 yards) led the receiving corps.
Tampa Bay has run the ball on 46.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while New Orleans has an overall rush percentage of 40.3 percent. The Buccaneers have rushed for 113.3 yards per game (including 100 per game against South opponents) and have three touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Saints are logging 102.5 rushing yards per game (0 in conference) and have two total rush TDs.
It appears that the Saints should own an edge in the trenches, as their offensive line has given up just eight sacks while the D-line has logged 10 sacks. The Buccaneers O-line has given up 12 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing signal-callerss just 11 times.
The Bucs offense has logged 291.8 yards per game through the air overall (208 per game against conference opposition) and has nine passing TDs so far. The Saints have put up 235.8 pass yards per contest (0 in the NFC) and have four total pass scores.
Defensively, Tampa Bay has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 59.3 yards and pass for 338 yards per game. The New Orleans defense has given up 295 yards per game to opposing passers and 112.0 yards per game on the ground. The Bucs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.18 to opposing QBs, while the Saints have given up a 7.6 ANY/A.
Offensively, Winston has amassed 787 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has completed 64-of-102 attempts with six passing scores and four interceptions. He has a 6.17 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 9.30 over the last two outings.
Mike Evans (178 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown this season), Chris Godwin (346 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and Ronald Jones II (154 rush yards, one rush TD, 30 receiving yards) have all played significant roles recently.
On the other sideline, Teddy Bridgewater has managed to complete 40-of-60 passes for 358 yards, zero TDs and one INT. Bridgewater’s ANY/A sits at a horrendous 3.78 for the year and 5.18 over his last two games.
Alvin Kamara (211 rushing yards, 107 receiving yards on the year), Michael Thomas (307 receiving yards) and Ted Ginn Jr. (120 receiving yards) have combined for 433 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the past couple of games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Buccaneers, ATS Winner: Buccaneers, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Tampa Bay defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times this year. New Orleans has registered 10 sacks.
- Each offense has lost one fumble this season.
- The Buccaneers offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Saints have put up two such plays.
- The Tampa Bay defense has allowed four pass plays of 40+ yards, while New Orleans has given up five such plays.
- Both defenses have produced two rushing plays of 20 or more yards. The Tampa Bay offense has recorded 13 running plays of 10+ yards while New Orleans has accounted for 10 such plays.
- The Buccaneers defense has allowed zero rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Saints have given up four such runs.
- The O/U for New Orleans’ last matchup was set at 47.5. The under cashed in the 12-10 win over Dallas.
- Over its last three matchups, New Orleans is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- In its last three contests, Tampa Bay is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Tampa Bay’s last game going into it was 48.5. The over cashed in the team’s 55-40 victory over the Rams.
- Tampa Bay has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its past three games and 3.7 over its last two.
- New Orleans has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.1 over its last two.
