On Sunday afternoon, the New Orleans Saints (5-11, 6-10 ATS, 7-9 O/U) will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7, 10-6 ATS, 11-5 O/U) in an important divisional matchup. The Saints come off a disappointing home loss to the Raiders, while the Buccaneers secured a decisive home victory against the Panthers. In their first encounter this season, Tampa Bay dominated with a 51-27 win.
Will the Buccaneers clinch the division title on Sunday? The following provides insights on the Saints vs. Bucs prediction.
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Saints’ Season Winds Down with Struggles
The New Orleans Saints are wrapping up a challenging season. They have faced difficulties in scoring and have often been vulnerable on defense. In their last five games, they have lost four times. Their recent matches include a narrow 20-19 defeat at home against the Commanders and a 25-10 loss to the Raiders. Most notably, they have only managed to cover the spread once in their last five games.
Throughout the season, the Saints have rotated multiple quarterbacks. Derek Carr, who has been sidelined for the past few games, will not participate on Sunday. He has tallied 2,145 passing yards with a 15:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season. Rookie Spencer Rattler took over the reins recently, recording 218 passing yards last week and amassing 1,077 yards with a 3:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio overall.
Running back Alvin Kamara missed last week’s game and remains questionable for this matchup, having accumulated 950 rushing yards this season. Juwan Johnson has struggled to find his rhythm, averaging fewer than 50 receiving yards in all but one outing, with a total of 468 yards. Chris Olave, who has not played since early November, registered 400 receiving yards in nine games and is expected to return. The Saints’ offense has consistently struggled, scoring 19 or fewer points in five consecutive games, averaging just 321 yards per game.
On the defensive side, the Saints have shown some improvement, allowing 21 or fewer points in three of their last five games, including a solid showing against the Rams. However, they gave up 388 total yards to the Raiders. Their pass defense ranks 28th, while their rush defense is 30th. New Orleans averages 19.9 points per game, placing them 22nd in the league, while allowing 23.2 points on average, ranking them 18th.
Buccaneers Set Sights on Division Title
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a fierce battle for the division title with the Atlanta Falcons. A win on Sunday would secure the division for them, although they could still clinch it with a loss, depending on the Falcons’ performance against the Panthers. The Buccaneers are on a roll, winning five of their last six games, with the only setback being a close 26-24 loss to the Cowboys. They bounced back impressively with a 48-14 victory over the Panthers, covering a 10.5-point spread in the process. They have covered the spread in three of their last five matchups.
Baker Mayfield has shown remarkable consistency, surpassing 288 passing yards in four of his last five games. He threw for an impressive 359 yards last week, accumulating 4,279 passing yards and a 39:15 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season.
Running back Bucky Irving has also made a significant impact, rushing for 88 or more yards in four of his last five games. Despite dealing with a shoulder injury, he has 1,033 rushing yards in his impressive rookie season. Wide receiver Mike Evans has recorded 915 receiving yards, although he has surpassed 100 yards only twice this season. Tight end Cade Otten has contributed with 600 receiving yards. The Buccaneers’ offense is averaging 33 points over their last five games, showcasing their ability to score effectively.
Defensively, the Buccaneers have had inconsistent performances. They struggled against a strong Cowboys offense but rebounded against the Panthers, limiting them to just 204 total yards. Over their last five games, they have allowed an average of only 18.6 points. While their pass defense ranks 29th, they excel in stopping the run, sitting at fifth in the league. However, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will miss this game.
Currently, Tampa Bay averages 29.7 points per game, ranking fifth, and holds opponents to an average of 22.9 points, positioning them 18th.
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Strategic Bets for New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
