NFL Predictions – Saints in Tough Against Pesky Buccaneers

Those of you who’s NFL Football Betting Predictions had the Saints losing to the Cardinals last week, raise your hands. Liars! The New Orleans Saints find themselves in an unexpected position – having to win on Sunday to avoid falling to the .500 mark.

The Buccaneers offer the opposition and if there is one thing that we’ve learned about the 2010 Bucs, they won’t go easy.

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-2) vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-1)

Sunday, October 17, 1:00 PM ET

Raymond James Stadium

Tampa Bay, Florida

Broadcast: FOX

NFL Predictions Lines:

New Orleans: -4 (-110)

Tampa Bay: +4 (-110)

Moneyline: New Orleans -200: Tampa Bay +165

Total: 43 points

The New Orleans Saints look like a different team than the one that won the Super Bowl only eight months ago. Granted, they are missing Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, but the vaunted passing game of a year ago appears to be stuck in second gear.

Drew Brees and the passing game will be fine but the turnovers have to stop, the kickers have to convert their chances and the running game has to get going. The running game is currently ranked 31st in the NFL with just 75.6 yards per game, Drew Brees threw three interceptions last week and they were plagued by yet another missed field goal on their way to a loss to Arizona.

The Saints defense has been surprisingly good this season. They are currently ranked ninth overall and they gave up only 149 yards of total offense last week.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a confident bunch right now and why not. Most NFL Predictions had them winning three games all season and after four games they have reached that plateau. Josh Freeman has quickly developed into a good NFL quarterback and his stable of young stud receivers has followed his lead. Against a tough Cincinnati defense, Freeman passed for 280 yards on the way to a win.

The running game has been a disappointment so far and is certainly not the reason that the Buccaneers are 3-1. Cadillac Williams may have been eclipsed by Earnest Graham who rumbled for 65 yards and a touchdown last week on just three carries.

Tampa’s defense is ranked 30th versus the run but they have generated at least two turnovers in all four of their games so far. They give up yards but they also give their offense short fields to work with – sounds like the Saints of last year!

NFL Predictions Outlook:

The New Orleans Saints are 19-5 S/U in their last 24 games and are 10-2 S/U in their last 12 on the road. The Saints are 0-5 ATS in their last five games, are 1-5 ATS in their last six games on the road, and are just 2-4 S/U in their last six games against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is 6-18 S/U in their last 24 games, 2-10 S/U in their last 12 games at home but is 5-2 S/U in their last seven games overall. The Bucs are 2-11 ATS in their last 13 at home and are 2-6 ATS at home in their last eight games against New Orleans.

The New Orleans Saints have a winning record and they haven’t even played their best game yet. The fact remains however that they are not the same team without Thomas and Bush. The Buccaneers defensive weakness is against the run and the Saints simply cannot run the ball. The Underdog is 11-5 ATS in the last 16 games but I am not going with the Dog in this one. The Saints could get Pierre Thomas back this week and even if they don’t, I think that they will put it all together and will take the young Bucs to school.

NFL Prediction: New Orleans Saints to cover the 4 points

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