In the final week of the 2018 regular season, the Buccaneers are set to host their NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons in Tampa Bay. Fans can catch the action live on FOX and the opening kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Preview
Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 49.5 points, and there will probably be some good live betting opportunities during this game.
The game’s over/under hasn’t moved after being set initially at 49.5. Having said that, the opening line was 2 so has recently moved down to 0.
The underwhelming Falcons have lost 6.2 units this season and are 5-10 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 8-7. The Buccaneers are down 2.8 units this year. The team is 6-7-2 ATS and also has an O/U record of 8-7.
The Falcons have gone 6-9 straight up (SU), including 3-2 SU against NFC South opponents. The Buccaneers are 5-10 SU overall and 2-3 SU against divisional foes.
Tampa Bay enters this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Atlanta has lost each of its last zero. The Falcons are coming off a resounding 24-10 victory over Carolina in Week 16. Matt Ryan completed 15-of-26 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns. Tevin Coleman (51 rushing yards on 10 attempts) and Brian Hill (115 yards on eight carries) led the ground attack in the win while Mohamed Sanu (five receptions, 81 yards, one TD) and Julio Jones (four catches, 28 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties.
Tampa Bay most recently fell 27-20 to Dallas in Week 16. The team’s defense held its ground in the loss, limiting the Cowboys to only 161 passing yards and 80 rushing yards. Ezekiel Elliott had a good showing, recording 85 rushing yards on 18 attempts for Dallas. For Tampa Bay, Jameis Winston completed 34-of-48 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown. Peyton Barber (43 yards on 17 rush attempts) led the ground game in the defeat as Adam Humphries (10 receptions, 79 yards) and Jacquizz Rodgers (seven catches, 55 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Atlanta has run the ball on 35.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Tampa Bay has an overall rush percentage of 38.5 percent. The Falcons have rushed for 98 yards/game (including 102 per game versus South opponents) and have 10 scores via handoffs this year. The Bucs are logging 95 rushing yards per game (103 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Falcons offense has tallied 304 yards/contest through the air overall (323 per game against conference opposition) and has 33 passing TDs so far. The Bucs have put up 334 pass yards per game (303.4 against NFC competition) and have 32 total pass scores.
Atlanta has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 127 yards and pass for 271 yards per game. The Tampa Bay defense has allowed 266.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 124.9 yards per game on the ground. The Falcons are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.42 to opposing QBs, while the Bucs have given up a 7.66 ANY/A.
Offensively, Ryan has already amassed 4,315 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 70 percent of his 528 attempts with 31 scores through the air and only six interceptions. He’s got a 7.73 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.51 over the last two outings.
Tevin Coleman, Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley have combined to account for 479 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns over the last two outings.
Jameis Winston has completed 209-of-318 passes for 2,490 yards, 15 TDs and 12 INTs for Tampa Bay. His ANY/A sits at 6.12 for the year and 5.86 across his past two outings.
Mike Evans (1,297 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns this season), Peyton Barber (720 rush yards, four rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Adam Humphries (727 receiving yards, five receiving TDs) have combined for 458 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns over the last couple of games.
RELATED: Week 17 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Prediction: Falcons vs. Buccaneers
SU Winner – Buccaneers, ATS Winner – Falcons, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Tampa Bay defense has tallied 37 sacks on the year while Atlanta has 36.
The Tampa Bay offense has lost nine fumbles this season while Atlanta has lost 11.
The Falcons offense has created nine pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Buccaneers have put up 13 such plays.
The Atlanta defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while Tampa Bay has given up five such plays.
The Atlanta offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Tampa Bay has created five such runs.
The Falcons defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Buccaneers have given up 15 such runs.
The O/U for Tampa Bay’s previous matchup was set at 48. The under cashed in that 27-20 defeat to Dallas.
In its last three games, Tampa Bay is 1-1-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
Over its last three matchups, Atlanta is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Atlanta’s previous game was 46. The under cashed in the team’s 24-10 win over Carolina.
As a team, Atlanta has averaged 7.2 yards per rush attempt over its last three games and 8.5 over its last two.
Tampa Bay has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.3 over its past two.
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