Falcons at Buccaneers: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football in Week 15. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a score prediction.

There is one game left in Week 15. That will be Monday Night Football. This week, it will be between a pair of NFC South rivals in the Atlanta Falcons (8-5) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9). Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will be at 8:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 18. Sean McDonough and Jon Gruden will be in the booth to call the game for ESPN.

Atlanta enters play at 8-5 on the year and in sixth place in the NFC. The Falcons are a game back of both the New Orleans Saints (9-4) and the Carolina Panthers (9-4) in the NFC South race. Atlanta only has division games left on the 2017 regular season schedule. How the Falcons fare in NFC South play will determine if this team is playoff bound or not.

Tampa Bay enters play at 4-9 on the year and in last place in the NFC South. The Buccaneers have been eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC for the 10th straight season. The last time Tampa Bay, Gruden was their head coach, when the Buccaneers won the NFC South in 2007. It’s been a frustrating decade in Tampa Bay with their professional football team to say the very least.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Atlanta -6
Moneylines: Atlanta -250, Tampa Bay +230
Over/Under: 49

According to OddsShark, the Buccaneers will be getting six points at home from the visiting Falcons. The associated moneylines for this game are Atlanta -250 and Tampa Bay +230. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 49 points.

Even though the Falcons’ offense is inconsistent, let’s take the over in this rivalry game. Tampa Bay doesn’t have a home field advantage and Atlanta tends to put up a bunch of points on this Buccaneers defense. It should lead to a high-scoring affair on Monday night in Tampa.

After struggling so badly on offense against the Saints on Thursday Night Football a week ago, the Falcons will put together one of their better offensive performances of the season. Atlanta will find pay dirt four times, including three touchdown passes from quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcons will take a 28-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time

Tampa Bay will outscore the Falcons in the final frame, but it won’t be enough to pull off the upset or cover the six-point spread. Atlanta improves to 9-5 with a 31-24 victory over the Buccaneers, who sadly fall to 4-10 on the year.

Pick: Falcons 31, Buccaneers 24