Jameis Winston, quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Getty)
The New Orleans Saints visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday for an NFC South showdown.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. Eastern from Raymond James Stadium and the game will be televised by FOX.
Here’s a complete look at all the betting info you need to know, as well as a prediction of the Week 14 NFL game below:
Saints vs. Buccaneers Week 14 Betting Info
Note: All odds and numbers courtesy of OddsShark.com and are updated as of December 11
Spread: Buccaneers (-1.5)
Betting Percentages: 57 percent for the Buccaneers (-1.5)
Over/Under: 50.5
Betting Percentages: 57 percent for the OVER
Season Results: Buccaneers 7-5 straight up; 7-5 against the spread; 6-5-1 for the OVER — Saints 5-7 straight up; 7-4-1 against the spread; 6-6 for the OVER/UNDER
Prediction
The Buccaneers have won four straight games, including victories over the Chiefs and Seahawks, teams probably headed to the playoffs. They are 5-1 on the road, but just 2-4 at home, where they’ll take on the 5-7 Saints.
Once again the Saints have one of the league’s top offenses, thanks to Drew Brees. And once again the Saints have one of the worst defenses. The Bucs are not defensive stalwarts either and they do have the capabilities and weapons to put up some points.
So, in a nutshell, this feels like it’s going to be a shootout.
This is the first meeting of the season between the division rivals. They play again in New Orleans in Week 16.
Brees is coming off his worst game of the season, a three-interception, zero-touchdown clunker vs. the Lions. That won’t happen again this Sunday. The Bucs have allowed 22 touchdown passes, tied for 24th most in the NFL. Brees is going to make that total go up. It should be noted, though, Tampa has allowed an average of just over 13 points per game over the past four.
Over the four-game winning streak, Jameis Winston has 6 touchdowns passes and 3 interceptions. He will also add to that TD total as New Orleans has given up 19 touchdown tosses.
Bucs running back Doug Martin returned four games ago, but is averaging just 2.85 yards per carry over that time. With Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower, the Saints rushing game has been pretty inconsistent, too.
Here are some recent betting trends for the teams. The Saints are 6-2-1 against the spread over the past 9 games, the Bucs are 4-1 ATS over the last 5. New Orleans is 8-1 straight up against Tampa Bay in the past 9 games. The UNDER has won in 5 of the Saints’ past 7 games. The OVER has won in 5 of the Buccaneers past 7 home games.
So how will this one shake out?
The Bucs are a team on the rise with NFC South title hopes dancing in their heads. The Saints have dominated Tampa Bay in recent years, but this season is different.
Winston, Mike Evans and Cameron Brate will make some plays and Tampa’s defense will do just enough to get the Buccaneers a rare win over the Saints.
The Pick: Buccaneers 34-28 (Buccaneers win straight up, Buccaneers cover the spread, the OVER wins)
