Fansided

Saints at Buccaneers: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

By John Buhler

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback James Winstons (3) is sacked during a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 5, 2017. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback James Winstons (3) is sacked during a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 5, 2017. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon in Week 17. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a final score pick.

It all comes down to this. Week 17 is rivalry week in the NFL. All 32 NFL franchises will be duking it out with a familiar divisional foe to end the regular season. One game of note that will be going on Sunday afternoon will be between NFC South rivals in the New Orleans Saints (11-4) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11).

Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will be at 4:25 p.m. ET on Dec. 31. Thom Brennaman and Chris Spielman will be in the booth to call this game for FOX. This is the rematch game from when Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston ate his hand to try to prove a point about winning or something.

New Orleans is playoff bound for the first time since 2013. The Saints clinched a playoff berth last week with a win at home over the arch rival Atlanta Falcons. With a win on the road in Tampa, the Saints can clinch their first division title since the 2011 campaign. New Orleans is full steam ahead to the NFC playoffs, but will need to take care of the rudderless Buccaneers before then.

Tampa Bay has had a massively disappointing year. This was the season that many thought Tampa Bay would be back in the NFC playoffs. Sadly, they went in the wrong direction in 2017. Head coach Dirk Koetter may not be back for a third season. Tampa Bay has been one of the worst teams in the NFC by far this year.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Tampa Bay +7
Moneylines: New Orleans -290, Tampa Bay +250
Over/Under: 50.5

According to OddsShark, the Buccaneers will be getting seven points at home from the visiting Saints. The associated moneylines for this game are New Orleans -290 and Tampa Bay +250. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 50.5 points.

Since this game involves the high-flying Saints offense and there is no home-field advantage in Tampa whatsoever, of course we’re going with the over in this NFC South rivalry game. The bigger question is not if the Saints will win, because they will, but will they be able to cover the lofty seven-point spread.

New Orleans will not rest starters in this game since the Saints will need to win the division. The Pro Bowl running back tandem of Mark Ingram Jr. and rookie Alvin Kamara will prove too much for a weakened Buccaneers defense.

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

Though Winston may actually outplay Saints quarterback Drew Brees in this one, a few costly turnovers will be key in New Orleans improving to 12-4 and winning the NFC South. Winston will have the Buccaneers driving late for a garbage time touchdown, but a strip sack by Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan will bring an end to that. The Saints win 31-23 to win the NFC South and cover the seven-point spread.

Pick: Saints 31, Buccaneers 23

Home/New Orleans Saints