A battle of NFC South rivals takes the stage Monday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6, 3-3 home) hosting the New Orleans Saints (4-8, 1-4 away). Tampa defeated New Orleans, 20-10, earlier this season in Week 2.
The division tilt begins at 8:15 p.m. EST at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Tampa Bay is a 3.5-point favorite, and the over/under total is 41.0 points.
What to Know – New Orleans Saints
New Orleans has dropped three of its last four games, including a 23-0 shutout defeat last week on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. The Saints sit at the bottom of the divisional standings.
The Saints’ offense averages 20.8 points per game which ranks in the bottom half of the league. On defense, New Orleans allows 23.3 points per contest to opposing offenses, also ranking in the bottom half of the league average.
Alvin Kamara continues to be the face of the Saints’ offense, leading the team with 524 rushing yards and sitting second on the team with 422 receiving yards. What Kamara has struggled to do this season is find the endzone, scoring only three times in 2022.
Rookie wide receiver has emerged in the passing game as a primary target, leading the organization with 56 receptions, 822 yards, and three touchdowns.
Over the last seven games, the Saints are 2-5 against the spread but 7-3 ATS against Tampa over the previous ten meetings. New Orleans is 0-5 ATS over its last five contests on the road.
What to Know – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs can take control of the division with a victory over the Saints. Tampa Bay can extend its first-place position to two games with a win.
Offensively, the Bucs rank near the bottom amongst NFL teams scoring 18.2 points per game. Tampa Bay’s defense has been the team’s strength, ranking fifth in the league, surrendering 18.5 points per contest.
Brady surpassed the 3,00-yard passing mark last week and has thrown 14 touchdowns to two interceptions at the age of 45. The veteran quarterback has leaned on wide receivers Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin, as the two have combined for 111 receptions, 1,287 yards, and five TDs.
Tampa is 1-7-1 against the spread over its last nine contests and 1-4 ATS through its last five when hosting the Saints. In six of the Bucs’ last seven games, the total has gone under.
The Pick is In
A lot is on the line in this one for the Saints if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Dalton is the guy the Saints have confidence in, but his propensity to turn the ball over has proven to be costly this season.
Brady and the Bucs won’t give the Saints free chances, and the Bucs’ defense will capitalize on a pair of New Orleans’ miscues to sweep the season series against New Orleans and take the victory.
The Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3.5
