Can The Falcons Start To Run Away With The NFC South on Sunday?
The Buccaneers at Falcons Odds Favor Atlanta In This Pivotal Divisional Matchup
The NFC South has been bonkers this season.
The Atlanta Falcons currently lead the division with a 6-6 record. Behind the Falcons are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sitting at 5-7. They’re tied with the New Orleans Saints, who are also 5-7.
Any three of these teams could win the division as we inch closer to the end of the regular season.
This week’s game between the Buccaneers and Falcons could help decide the NFC South winner. If the Falcons earn a win, they’ll be the only team above .500 heading into Week 15. However, if the Falcons lose to the Buccaneers this weekend, the division will be wide-open, with only four more games to be played after this weekend.
At this time, the Falcons are currently listed as 2.5-point favorites. The total is at 39.5.
Earlier this season, on the road, the Falcons earned a three-point victory over the Buccaneers, 16-13 after a game-winning field goal. Will we get the same result this weekend?
Check out the Buccaneers at Falcons odds for this massive matchup in the NFC South.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons 
Day/Time:
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Streaming: CBS
Buccaneers at Falcons Odds & Trends
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been slightly undervalued this season. Tampa Bay is just 5-7 on the season. However, the Buccaneers have gone 7-5 against the spread this season. However, the Buccaneers are 2-4 on the road, which doesn’t bode well for them in this game against the Falcons.
Meanwhile, the total has hit the Under in eight of 12 games for Tampa Bay this season.
On the other hand, the Falcons have won two straight games against the spread. They knocked off the Saints, 24-15, as 1-point favorites and earned a 13-8 win over the Jets, as 2.5-point favorites. That gave Atlanta four wins against the spread this season. They’re now 4-8 in covering games this season.
But like the Buccaneers, the Under has hit in eight of 12 games. Atlanta is also 4-2 at home and playing better defensively more recently.
The Falcons have also defeated the Buccaneers in two straight games. The last one was on October 22, when, again, the Falcons earned a 16-13 victory on a game-winning field goal. The total was 37.5, and it went Under for that game.
Mike Evans Is Highly Undervalued
It doesn’t matter who is at quarterback. Mike Evans will find a way to earn at least 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
The Buccaneers earned a 21-18 win over the Panthers last week. In that game, Evans surpassed 1,000 yards receiving for his 10th straight season since being in the league.
Evans has tied Randy Moss for the second-most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a career. Jerry Rice has the record of 14 1,000-yard seasons and is in the Hall of Fame.
It’s just more impressive that Evans has earned this feat by playing with so many different quarterbacks during his time in Tampa Bay. Evans can set more NFL records as his career continues.
Drake London’s “Heck of a Season”
Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith acknowledged to the media that No. 1 wide receiver Drake London is having a “heck of a season.”
It hasn’t been talked about much. He’s also not putting up stats like Mike Evans. However, London has added 46 catches and 573 yards receiving in his second season with the Falcons.
London has also secured two touchdowns.
Maybe the box score doesn’t paint the entire picture. After all, he was only targeted five times and caught one ball for eight yards against the Jets. But in his defense, that’s the Jets we’re talking about. New York has Sauce Gardner defending him.
Smith talked about London’s energy, even when he’s having a game with little production. The team can feed off that energy, and it becomes contagious.
London isn’t Mike Evans. But he’s a big piece of Atlanta’s offense.
Tampa Bay’s Defense Is Suspect
The Tampa Bay defense has been odd this season. The Buccaneers have only allowed 20.42 points per game this season. However, the pass defense has allowed nearly 258 yards per game, and the run defense has allowed 99 yards per game.
The Buccaneers are getting closer and closer to allowing 400 yards per game. A couple more poor games, defensively, and that could turn into reality for the Buccaneers.
The Falcons aren’t a top offense. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons have earned under 200 yards passing per game, while the running game has earned 135.17 yards per matchup.
Atlanta’s offense is nothing exciting. Drake London ultimately leads the team in receiving with only 573 yards. As we discussed, he brings a lot to the table, but the Falcons have played 12 games. London hasn’t even averaged 50 yards per game.
On the other hand, Atlanta’s defense is terrific against the run. They’ve missed tackles like the Buccaneers, but the run defense is typically very consistent. Even the passing defense isn’t terrible. The Falcons have allowed 208.08 yards per game in the air this season.
The last time these two teams played, there was a total of 29 points. We don’t expect a high-scoring game in this one, either. Atlanta’s offense is weak, while the defense has held teams to 20 points per game.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has averaged only 85.17 yards per game on the ground. The Buccaneers won’t get much from the ground game, either.
The Falcons are NFL favorites when looking at the NFL picks against the spread. However, we don’t trust either offense enough. The Buccaneers at Falcons odds for the total are at 39.5. That’s too high. Take the Under 39.5 (-110).
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