Saints vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 15 Odds, Prediction
The Bucs opened as 11.5-point favourites on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Tom Brady won AFC East titles just about every season he was the quarterback of the New England Patriots but hasn’t yet won a division title in the NFC – yes, the Bucs were Super Bowl champions last season but they were a wild-card team. New Orleans won the NFC South for a fourth straight season.
With a victory Sunday night over the Saints, Tampa Bay would win the South for the first time since 2007. The Bucs have bigger plans, though: Earning the NFC’s top seed and lone first-round bye. That’s likely coming down to Arizona, Green Bay or Tampa Bay. Right now, the Bucs sit second among that trio due to tiebreakers. They don’t play the Cardinals or Packers in the regular season.
Brady is 0-3 in his regular-season NFC career against the Saints, losing both games last year – but winning in the playoffs in New Orleans – and also losing in Week 8 this year, 36-27. Brady threw for 375 yards and four scores but also two picks, one returned for a score. Former Bucs QB Jameis Winston left that game injured for New Orleans and it would be season ending. The Saints really haven’t been the same since on that side of the ball, but they still have a wild-card shot.
New Orleans is 6-1 against the spread in the past seven meetings.
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans ended a five-game skid Sunday but we wouldn’t say much was fixed because the Saints simply beat a bad Jets team 30-9. The return of star running back Alvin Kamara from a four-game injury absence certainly helped, though, as he rushed for 120 yards and a TD and had four catches. Kamara broke the NFL record for most receptions by a running back in the first five years of his career. Taysom Hill didn’t do a heck of a lot through the air but rushed for 73 yards and two scores.
The Saints also got left tackle Terron Armstead, defensive end Marcus Davenport and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson back from injuries Sunday – and may get right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, defensive end Cameron Jordan and running back Mark Ingram II back this week. The Saints are 19-7 ATS in their past 26 as road dogs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay was a winner twice in Week 14 – beating Buffalo 33-27 in overtime Sunday to win a fourth straight game and then previously NFC top-seeded Arizona being upset at home Monday night. The latter massively increased Tampa’s chances of earning home-field advantage in the playoffs. As for Sunday, the Bucs did blow a 27-10 fourth-quarter lead vs. Buffalo but won it on Tom Brady’s 58-yard TD pass to seldom-used Breshad Perriman in OT. It was just the second OT touchdown pass of TB12’s career. Brady became the first player in NFL history with 700 career TD passes (including playoffs) and also passed Drew Brees for the most completions in NFL history.
Receiver Antonio Brown remains out on a three-game suspension this week and Coach Bruce Arians hasn’t said whether he will even allow Brown back afterward after yet another off-the-field slip up, this time involving fake vaccination cards. Tampa Bay is 5-0 ATS in its past five as a home favourite.
NO
TB