Former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston was the No. 1 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2015. On Sunday with the New Orleans Saints, Winston will make his first-ever start against his former team. The Bucs are favored on the NFL odds.
How to Bet Bucs at Saints NFL Odds & TV Info
- When: Sunday, 4:25 PM ET
- Where: Caesars Superdome
- TV: Fox
- Radio: http://www.siriusxm.com/nfl
- Stream Option: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV
- Opening NFL Lines: Bucs -5.5 (total 50)
Last Meeting
The final game in the Hall of Fame career of Saints QB Drew Brees was at home in the divisional round of last season’s playoffs as New Orleans lost to Tampa Bay 30-20. Tom Brady and the Bucs’ offense turned three of four Saints turnovers into touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns came on short passes to Mike Evans and Leonard Fournette. Brees was 19 of 34 for 134 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. The Saints led 20-13 at one point.
This will be the 60th overall meeting (regular season/postseason) between the two clubs. New Orleans leads the regular-season series 37-21, including two consecutive season sweeps. Coach Sean Payton is 18-10 against Tampa Bay in the regular season, having won the last five.
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Bucs (6-1) destroyed the Bears 38-3 last Sunday, their fourth straight win. Tom Brady completed 20-of-36 for 211 yards and four touchdowns, including his 600th career. Brady now leads the league with 21 passing scores through seven weeks and is on pace for 51 touchdowns at the age of 44.
Brady, the league’s all-time leader in both passing yards (81,479) and touchdown passes (602), now has 37 career games with at least four touchdown passes and 97 games with at least three touchdown passes, both tied with Drew Brees for the most such games in NFL history. Brady, who has 203 completions and 21 touchdown passes this season, became the third player with at least 200 completions and 20 touchdown passes in his team’s first seven games of a season in NFL history, joining Andrew Luck (2018) and Peyton Manning (2013).
Leonard Fournette had 15 rushes for 81 yards and a touchdown in the win. The Bucs ran for a season-high 182 yards and averaged a season-best 5.9 yards per carry. It’s the most rushing yards the offense has produced since a 210-yard outing at Carolina last year.
Mike Evans caught six passes for 76 yards and three touchdowns. Evans continues to function as Brady’s go-to guy near the end zone with Rob Gronkowski (ribs) sidelined. However, Gronk is tracking to return Sunday. Wideout Antonio Brown is expected to remain out.
Cornerback Richard Sherman returned to practice this week. Sherman suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6 and didn’t play vs. Chicago. He should Sunday. Linebacker Lavonte David also is expected to return from injury.
Including the postseason, Tampa Bay has won 14 of its last 15 games, dating back to Week 14 of last season.
Why Bet on New Orleans?
The Saints won in Seattle on Monday, 13-10. Jameis Winston completed 19-of-35 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown, adding eight rushes for 40 yards — season-highs as a runner with backup QB Taysom Hill out with a concussion. Hill is not expected to play this week. Alvin Kamara rushed 20 times for 51 yards and caught 10-of-11 targets for 128 yards and one touchdown.
Winston spent five seasons as Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback after being drafted first-overall in 2015 and he currently owns virtually every major passing record in franchise history. This season, Winston is averaging just 186 passing yards per game for the NFL’s 31st-ranked passing attack, but he also has a solid 13-3 TD-INT ratio and a 102.4 passer rating. Winston is also enjoying playing behind the always-solid New Orleans offensive line, which has allowed just 11 sacks in seven games.
In the Saints’ two wins over the Buccaneers in 2020, Kamara was limited to a total of 116 yards from scrimmage but he still scored three touchdowns. Kamara (3,065 career receiving yards) has become the third running back to reach 3,000 receiving yards in his first five seasons, joining Lenny Moore (3,509) and Roger Craig (3,234). This Sunday, Kamara (351 career receptions) needs eight catches to surpass Craig (358) for the most ever by a running back in his first five seasons.
Five Saints starters who had been out with injuries returned for last Monday’s game in Seattle: left tackle Terron Armstead, center Erik McCoy, defensive end Marcus Davenport, linebacker Kwon Alexander and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith. However, Pro Bowl offensive tackle Andrus Peat tore his pec against the Seahawks and is done for the year.
Defensively, New Orleans is only giving up 16.8 points per game and has already picked off nine passes. Lineman David Onyemata will return from a six-game suspension against the Buccaneers. Onyemata recorded seven sacks and 29 quarterback hurries in 2020.
Game Trends
- Buccaneers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road favorite.
- Buccaneers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC South.
- Saints are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a home underdog.
- Saints are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NFC South.
- Buccaneers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings.
Expert Prediction
- Bucs 27, Saints 26
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