Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs New Orleans Saints: Las Vegas Line & Pick Against the Spread

The upstart Tampa Bay Buccaneers will travel to New Orleans to play the New Orleans Saints on January 2nd. This game will close the books on a very competitive NFC South division battle. The New Orleans Saints now have the opportunity for home field advantage in the NFL Playoffs after they beat the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome on Monday Night Football.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense vs New Orleans Saints Offense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense has played well against NFL quarterbacks this season and the emergence of Aqib Talib on the corner has led to one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. Ronde Barber is at the end of his career but he schooled Talib well this season and the duo is keeping opposing NFL quarterbacks to less than 210 Yards per game.

Drew Brees and this New Orleans Saints offense is not only unpredictable they are explosive. Drew Brees exhibited why he is a Super Bowl champion in the game against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Brees eluded pass rushers on several occasions and made huge plays to lead the New Orleans Saints to a win. The New Orleans Saints offense has the edge over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offense vs New Orleans Defense

Josh Freeman has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Freeman is not lighting up the NFL in the passing department but he has developed into a leader that can play well in the waning moments of a close game.

The arrival of LaGarrette Blount on this offense has helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers elevate a very weak running game. The combination of Blount and Cadillac Williams have proven lethal in several games this season but Blount's brute force running style has softened up defenses in the last few games.

The New Orleans Saints defense has brought their game to their Super Bowl level of last season. Darren Sharper's return to the line up has been a key to motivate this New Orleans Saints defense. Sharper has missed ten games this season and if he is out of the line up when the New Orleans Saints make the NFL Playoffs their chances are greatly diminished. The Tampa Buccaneers offense has a slight edge over the New Orleans Saints defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints -8: Pick Against the Spread & Breakdown

The Las Vegas Hilton Superbook has made the New Orleans Saints an eight point favorite in this game on their home field over the Tampa Bay Buccaneeers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 6-0-1 against the spread on the road. This is a key statistic in this game with the New Orleans Saints.

The New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees are 4-3 against the spread in the Louisiana Superdome. They have not been a favorite of handicappers especially when installed as a favorite. Overall the New Orleans Saints are 7-8 against the spread and a losing record against the spread does not invite confidence from the betting public. Take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to go undefeated against the spread in the regular season. They will cover the eight points but the New Orleans Saints will manage to win this game by a field goal.

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Statistical sources:

www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com

www.yahoosports.com

www.espn.go.com