Saints vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 18 Odds, Prediction

Edgar Chaput | Updated Jan 03, 2025

NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Win and they’re in. That’s the motto for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they host the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.

AT
January 05, 2025, 1:00 PM ET
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa Bay
10-7
Pointspread +14.5 -110
Moneyline +850
Over / Under o +45
Pointspread -14.5 -110
Moneyline -1400
Over / Under u +45

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were swept by NFC South rivals the Atlanta Falcons earlier this season, things were looking glum for their playoff hopes. But Atlanta has faded and Tampa Bay has answered the bell. Now, all they have to do is win on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and they’ll earn a playoff berth and a home Wild Card match.

Our NFL odds put down a lot of chalk for the host Buccaneers, as they’re currently -13.5 favourites.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

If this regular season curtain caller is anything like the first meeting in October, it could very well be a total disaster for New Orleans. The Bucs trampled all over New Orleans 51-27. As much as one doesn’t want to see a quarterback throw interceptions, Baker Mayfield’s three that day hardly mattered.

Overall Tampa Bay has won three of the last four meetings.

Amidst a lost campaign for the Saints, betters aren’t given much reason to muster enthusiasm for them. The Louisiana-based franchise is no better than 6-10 against the spread this season. Things weren’t too bad in late November, but the club has failed to capitalize on four of its last five spread opportunities. With Derek Carr done for the season, they’ll be heading into battle with Spencer Rattler again, but the first-year signal-caller hasn’t faired well, losing all six of his starts.

Todd Bowles’ outfit is the polar opposite, posting an honourable 10-6 record for its efforts against the spread. It’s been a bit rockier since December, during which the club only went 3-2 ATS, but overall, this year they’ve been a decent bet. Tampa Bay enters the final week of the regular season (and maybe the postseason) with the third-best attack in the NFL regard total yards per game. They eat up 399.8 per week.

New Orleans Saints

You know things are unravelling when you not only lose to the Las Vegas Raiders, but you look like the second-best team on the gridiron. Such was the case in Week 17 when the Saints fell in the home closer, 25-10.

New Orleans put up a decent fight in the first half to only trail 13-10 at the midway break. But the fact that the offence’s only real highlight of the entire afternoon was a well-executed trick play that allowed Rattler to find a wide-open Foster Morrow for a TD spoke volumes. Normal, relatively simple plays are a challenge for this side. Las Vegas doesn’t even have a particularly stout defence this season, yet the Saints could do no better than 13 first downs and 269 yards of total offence, not to mention a horrendous 1/10 on third down.

Rattler himself finished 20/36 for 218 yards, one TD, and two INTs. WR Juwan Johnson finished with six catches for 66 yards. The running game was non-existent, as four players, including the QB, tallied 81 yards.

On a positive note, veteran DE Cameron Jordan had two tackles for losses and a sack.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers were in no mood to tempt fate when they hosted a spry Carolina Panthers squad last week. Knowing a win was imperative, they raced out of the gates and never slowed down, taming the Panthers 48-14.

The most shocking element of that final score was that it was only a 10-7 match at the first quarter’s conclusion. Tampa obliterated Carolina 38-7 the rest of the way. It was also Mayfield’s finest performance of the season. He finished with a stellar 27/32, 359 yards, five TDs and, for once, no picks. WRs Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan both caught a pair of majors.

One would think all that throwing would mean not much of a rushing game, but Bucky Irving still amassed 113 yards on the ground and a 5.7 average. It was a tremendous afternoon for the Bucs. They only have one more step now.

Who Will Win Saints vs. Buccaneers?

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