The Saints have won their last two games without Drew Brees and they are a three-point home favorite against a Buccaneers team that is coming off a win where they scored 55 points. The total for this NFC South showdown is at 47.
The public has backed the Bucs, big time, as they opened as six-point underdogs and now, as of Tuesday, are three-point underdogs.
Both teams are coming off wins where they handed their opponents their first loss of the season, as the Bucs beat the L.A. Rams 55-40 and the Saints beat the Dallas Cowboys 12-10.
Last season these division rivals split the two games with each winning on the road and in the season opener at New Orleans the Bucs beat the Saints in a 48-40 shootout.
The Saints had failed to cover in five straight home games before doing so in their last game and the Bucs have covered in both home games this season.
Bucs Light it Up
In the Bucs 55-40 win over the L.A. Rams they lit up the scoreboard and while they gave up over 500 passing yards, they had a lot of them as well and they forced five turnovers.
Jameis Winson passed for 385 yards with four TD and one INT and after two TD and three INT in his first two games he has seven TD and two picks in his last two games. Chris Goodwin had a big game against the Rams with 172 yards and a couple of scores and Mike Evans had 89 receiving yards.
The Bucs rushed for only 88 yards in the win over the Rams with Ronald Jones II rushing for 70 of them and he has rushed for 150 yards in the last two games.
New Orleans has had their issues on defense this season but shut down the Cowboys in their last game only giving up 257 total yards.
Defense Kills It
The defense won the game for the Saints in their 12-10 win over the Cowboys and they shut down the run only allowing 45 rushing yards. Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliot had rushed for at least 111 yards in two straight games, but the Saints held him to 35 yards and he only averaged 1.9 yards per carry.
Teddy Bridgewater had another decent game with Brees going 23/30 for 193 yards with no TD and an INT. WR Michael Thomas led the team with 95 receiving yards and Alvin Kamara rushed for 69 yards and caught three passes for 20 yards.
Bridgewater and company will be facing a Jeckyl and Hyde defense for Tampa Bay, as they rank first in the league in run defense, holding the Rams to only 28 rushing yards last week, but rank 2nd to last in passing defense. Can the Saints take advantage of that with Bridgewater under center?
Our Prediction
The Bucs are 4-0-1 ATS in their last five road games and are 4-1 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record.
The Saints have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games following a win.
Tough call in this one with the Bucs’ offense clicking and the Saints defense playing lights out last week. At home and only giving three points I have to go with New Orleans, as they will tested but they will win and cover the spread.
PICK: Saints -3
***Bettorsworld model predicts OVER 46.5