The Bucs unleashed the full potential of their offence in a big Week 4 victory over the Rams – but building off that 55-point performance could prove difficult as they tangle with the host Saints on Sunday.
With quarterback Drew Brees out several more weeks, the Saints have placed an even greater emphasis on defence – and the results were terrific, with New Orleans coming off a 12-10 win over Dallas.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -110 +3
- New Orleans Saints -110 -3
This one is too close to call on neutral footing; fortunately for the Saints, they’ll enjoy home-field advantage and the slight odds boost that comes with it. But New Orleans has been a dreadful home cover option of late, having gone just 1-5 ATS in its last six games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Bucs, meanwhile are on a 4-0-1 ATS heater in their last five on the road and have covered seven of their previous 10 meetings with AFC South opponents.
Sunday’s matchup carries a total of 47, and over bettors will no doubt be tempted by the fact that the Bucs surpassed that number by themselves last week. But these teams have been an under bettor’s dream in recent years, having finished below the total in 15 of their previous 21 head-to-head encounters (though two of those six overs have come in their last three tilts.) The Saints are also 9-2 to the under in their last 11 against the NFC.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Who needs a run game when the passing offence looks this good? The Buccaneers entered the season with plenty of question marks – the running back situation and quarterback Jameis Winston chief among them. But while the rush attack is still a work in progress (averaging 3.8 yards per carry), Winston has looked like an NFL MVP candidate the past two weeks with 765 passing yards and seven touchdowns in victories over the Giants and Rams.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints rank in or near the bottom-third in the NFL in total defence and pass defence, but they have shown flashes of stardom when it comes to run defence. They limited Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott to 35 yards on 18 carries in last week’s victory, vaulting them into 13th in the league in total run defence. They’ve also held four of their past seven divisional opponents to 21 or fewer points at home, which is progress.
Who Will Win Bucs vs. Saints?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 30 Sep 2:10am | TB | -5 -110 | O +47.5 -110 |
| Closing 3 Oct 6:31am | TB | -3 -110 | O +46.5 -110 |
Weather
| temp | 85 |
| condition | dome |
Injuries
Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)
Matt Gay (K)
William Gholston (DL)
Donovan Smith (T)
Jameis Winston (QB)
Jason Pierre-Paul (LB)
Carlton Davis (CB)
Matt Gay (K)
Ryan Jensen (C)
Jameis Winston (QB)
Kiko Alonso (LB)
Mario Edwards Jr. (DE)
Craig Robertson (LB)
Dwayne Washington (RB)
Zach Line (FB)
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S)
Krishawn Hogan (WR)
Eli Apple (CB)
Marcus Williams (S)
Ryan Ramczyk (T)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB) | day-to-day | Ankle - 29 / 12 / 19 | 0-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Bunting has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest with an injured ankle. |
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| Matt Gay (K) | Prob Sun | Back - 25 / 12 / 19 | 0-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Gay has a back injury, but is expected to be available to face the Falcons on Sunday. |
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| William Gholston (DL) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 25 / 12 / 19 | 0-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Gholston has an ankle injury, but is expected to be available versus the Falcons on Sunday. |
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| Donovan Smith (T) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 25 / 12 / 19 | 0-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Smith is managing ankle and knee injuries, and it is unknown if he will be available to play against the Falcons on Sunday. |
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| Jameis Winston (QB) | Prob Sun | Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19 | 0-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Winston is dealing with injuries to his knee and right thumb, but it is expected that he will play against the Falcons on Sunday. |
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| Jason Pierre-Paul (LB) | Prob Sat | Neck - 21 / 12 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Pierre-Paul is expected to be available against the Texans on Saturday despite a neck injury. |
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| Carlton Davis (CB) | Prob Sat | Ankle - 19 / 12 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Davis has an ankle injury, but it is expected that he will be available to face the Texans on Saturday. |
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| Matt Gay (K) | day-to-day | Groin - 17 / 12 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Gay exited the last game with an unspecified injury. It is unclear if he will be available Week 17 against the Falcons. |
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| Ryan Jensen (C) | Prob Sat | Elbow - 17 / 12 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Jensen is managing an elbow injury, but he is expected to take the field Saturday versus the Texans. |
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| Jameis Winston (QB) | Prob Sat | Thumb - 17 / 12 / 19 | 1-0 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Winston is expected to suit up for Saturday's contest versus the Texans despite a small fracture in his right thumb. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiko Alonso (LB) | day-to-day | Knee - 05 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Alonso left Sunday's game due to a knee injury and will not return. |
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| Mario Edwards Jr. (DE) | Out Sun | Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Edwards Jr. has a hamstring injury, and will not be available to face the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round. |
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| Craig Robertson (LB) | Ques Sun | Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Robertson is managing a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will be available to face the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round. |
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| Dwayne Washington (RB) | Prob Sun | Knee - 01 / 01 / 20 | 1-0 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Washington hurt his knee, but he is expected to take on the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round. |
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| Zach Line (FB) | Out Sun | Knee - 28 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Line is tending to a knee injury, and he will not be available for the NFC wild-card round versus the Vikings. |
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| C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S) | Ques Sun | Knee - 25 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Gardner-Johnson is nursing an injured knee, and it is unclear if he will play against the Panthers on Sunday. |
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| Krishawn Hogan (WR) | I-R | Hamstring - 25 / 12 / 19 | 2-0 | 2-0 | + - |
|
Hogan has landed on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury. |
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| Eli Apple (CB) | I-R | Ankle - 22 / 12 / 19 | 3-0 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Apple is on injured reserve with an ankle injury. |
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| Marcus Williams (S) | Prob Sun | Groin - 22 / 12 / 19 | 3-0 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Williams is dealing with an injured groin, but it is anticipated that he will play in the NFC wild-card round against the Vikings. |
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| Ryan Ramczyk (T) | Ques Sun | Knee - 19 / 12 / 19 | 3-0 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Ramczyk is managing a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Titans on Sunday. |
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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
27 -
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
24
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 30 Sep 2:10am TB -5 -110 O +47.5 -110 Closing 3 Oct 6:31am TB -3 -110 O +46.5 -110 -
Weather
temp 85 condition dome -
Injuries
Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)
day-to-day Ankle - 29 / 12 / 19Matt Gay (K)
Prob Sun Back - 25 / 12 / 19William Gholston (DL)
Prob Sun Ankle - 25 / 12 / 19Donovan Smith (T)
Ques Sun Ankle - 25 / 12 / 19Jameis Winston (QB)
Prob Sun Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19Jason Pierre-Paul (LB)
Prob Sat Neck - 21 / 12 / 19Carlton Davis (CB)
Prob Sat Ankle - 19 / 12 / 19Matt Gay (K)
day-to-day Groin - 17 / 12 / 19Ryan Jensen (C)
Prob Sat Elbow - 17 / 12 / 19Jameis Winston (QB)
Prob Sat Thumb - 17 / 12 / 19Kiko Alonso (LB)
day-to-day Knee - 05 / 01 / 20Mario Edwards Jr. (DE)
Out Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20Craig Robertson (LB)
Ques Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20Dwayne Washington (RB)
Prob Sun Knee - 01 / 01 / 20Zach Line (FB)
Out Sun Knee - 28 / 12 / 19C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S)
Ques Sun Knee - 25 / 12 / 19Krishawn Hogan (WR)
I-R Hamstring - 25 / 12 / 19Eli Apple (CB)
I-R Ankle - 22 / 12 / 19Marcus Williams (S)
Prob Sun Groin - 22 / 12 / 19Ryan Ramczyk (T)
Ques Sun Knee - 19 / 12 / 19Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB) day-to-day Ankle - 29 / 12 / 19 0-0 0-1 + - Bunting has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest with an injured ankle.
Matt Gay (K) Prob Sun Back - 25 / 12 / 19 0-0 0-1 + - Gay has a back injury, but is expected to be available to face the Falcons on Sunday.
William Gholston (DL) Prob Sun Ankle - 25 / 12 / 19 0-0 0-1 + - Gholston has an ankle injury, but is expected to be available versus the Falcons on Sunday.
Donovan Smith (T) Ques Sun Ankle - 25 / 12 / 19 0-0 0-1 + - Smith is managing ankle and knee injuries, and it is unknown if he will be available to play against the Falcons on Sunday.
Jameis Winston (QB) Prob Sun Thumb - 25 / 12 / 19 0-0 0-1 + - Winston is dealing with injuries to his knee and right thumb, but it is expected that he will play against the Falcons on Sunday.
Jason Pierre-Paul (LB) Prob Sat Neck - 21 / 12 / 19 1-0 1-1 + - Pierre-Paul is expected to be available against the Texans on Saturday despite a neck injury.
Carlton Davis (CB) Prob Sat Ankle - 19 / 12 / 19 1-0 1-1 + - Davis has an ankle injury, but it is expected that he will be available to face the Texans on Saturday.
Matt Gay (K) day-to-day Groin - 17 / 12 / 19 1-0 1-1 + - Gay exited the last game with an unspecified injury. It is unclear if he will be available Week 17 against the Falcons.
Ryan Jensen (C) Prob Sat Elbow - 17 / 12 / 19 1-0 1-1 + - Jensen is managing an elbow injury, but he is expected to take the field Saturday versus the Texans.
Jameis Winston (QB) Prob Sat Thumb - 17 / 12 / 19 1-0 1-1 + - Winston is expected to suit up for Saturday's contest versus the Texans despite a small fracture in his right thumb.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Kiko Alonso (LB) day-to-day Knee - 05 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Alonso left Sunday's game due to a knee injury and will not return.
Mario Edwards Jr. (DE) Out Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Edwards Jr. has a hamstring injury, and will not be available to face the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round.
Craig Robertson (LB) Ques Sun Hamstring - 04 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Robertson is managing a hamstring injury, and it is unclear if he will be available to face the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round.
Dwayne Washington (RB) Prob Sun Knee - 01 / 01 / 20 1-0 1-0 + - Washington hurt his knee, but he is expected to take on the Vikings in the NFC wild-card round.
Zach Line (FB) Out Sun Knee - 28 / 12 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Line is tending to a knee injury, and he will not be available for the NFC wild-card round versus the Vikings.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson (S) Ques Sun Knee - 25 / 12 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Gardner-Johnson is nursing an injured knee, and it is unclear if he will play against the Panthers on Sunday.
Krishawn Hogan (WR) I-R Hamstring - 25 / 12 / 19 2-0 2-0 + - Hogan has landed on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury.
Eli Apple (CB) I-R Ankle - 22 / 12 / 19 3-0 2-1 + - Apple is on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Marcus Williams (S) Prob Sun Groin - 22 / 12 / 19 3-0 2-1 + - Williams is dealing with an injured groin, but it is anticipated that he will play in the NFC wild-card round against the Vikings.
Ryan Ramczyk (T) Ques Sun Knee - 19 / 12 / 19 3-0 2-1 + - Ramczyk is managing a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Titans on Sunday.