Divisional bragging rights will be on the line on Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints meet at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 20, 2015
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX.
LINE: Saints -10. O/U: 47
PREDICTION: Saints 38, Buccaneers 24
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Oddsmakers currently have the Saints listed as 10½-point favorites versus the Buccaneers, while the game’s total is sitting at 48½.
The defense, which underwent a personnel overhaul in the offseason after finishing 31st in the league in total defense in 2014, could use a little help from an offense that struggled in the red zone in the opener. “The defense got off the field a few times and we had some chances to go down and get significant points, and we just ended up with field goals,” quarterback Drew Brees told reporters. “Red-zone efficiency obviously (is a priority) as we look forward to the Bucs.” Brees presided over a pair of wins over Tampa Bay last season but totaled six interceptions and three touchdown passes in those contests.
New Orleans was a 31-19 loser in its last match on the road against the Cardinals. They failed to cover the +2-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 50 sent OVER bettors to the payout window.
Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
New Orleans is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
New Orleans is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
New Orleans is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games at home
New Orleans is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games at home
Tampa Bay’s coaching staff was searching for positives after the Week 1 debacle and singled out running back Doug Martin, who is expected to have a big season after being limited to a total of 17 games over the previous two campaigns. “(Martin) is a hard runner and he can make you miss in the open field, (he) can catch the ball out of the backfield,” coach Lovie Smith told reporters. “So early on, of course when you’re in a situation where you can run it, it looked good at times.” Martin is averaging 99 rushing yards and 108.7 from scrimmage in his last three games against New Orleans.
Tampa Bay lost its last outing, a 42-14 result against the Titans on September 13. The Buccaneers failed to cover in that game as a -3-point favorite, while the 56 combined points took the game OVER the total.
Team record: 0-1 SU,0-1 ATS
Tampa Bay is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Tampa Bay’s last 11 games
Tampa Bay is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
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