Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs New Orleans Saints
Date/Time: September 13, 4:25 p.m. ET
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
TV Coverage: Fox
Opening Odds: Saints -4.5 | O/U 49.5 (Line History)
Buccaneers vs Saints Matchup Report
Opening Odds Analysis
Early bettors are buying into the buzz about the Bucs, betting Tampa Bay down to as low as +3 at some shops before the line moved back to +3.5 as of the time of writing. It’s a cheap price for backing the Saints at home, where New Orleans has been favored by 3.5 points or less just three times in its last 15.
Tampa Bay News & Notes
The Bucs might be the NFL’s most hyped team going into the 2020 campaign, and it’s not just because of the off-season signings of Brady, Gronkowski and running back Leonard Fournette. There was already a lot to like about Tampa Bay before those acquisitions, even though the Buccaneers finished last year with six losses in their last seven games and have won just four of their last 23 on the road.
Tampa Bay led the NFL in passing yards in 2019, was third in total yards, fourth in points scored and had the league’s best rush defense. The Bucs just couldn’t overcome 33 turnovers by QB Jameis Winston, as six of their nine losses came by a touchdown or less. To put Winston’s turnover numbers into perspective, Brady has thrown just 29 interceptions in his last four seasons combined.
If you’re looking to play DFS this week, be sure to take a look at receiver Chris Godwin. The 24-year-old caught a pair of 26-yard touchdown passes and finished with 125 receiving yards when Tampa Bay visited New Orleans last year, and he’s scored five majors in eight career games vs the Saints.
New Orleans News & Notes
The Saints have been notoriously slow starters under head coach Sean Payton. Last year, they needed a 58-yard field goal by Wil Lutz at the final gun to edge Houston 30-28 in Week 1 and avoid their sixth straight season-opening loss. New Orleans is also just 1-7 ATS in its last eight home games in September.
Once the Saints do get rolling, however, they’re expected to look a lot like the team that has posted consecutive 13-win seasons. Already with WR Michael Thomas, TE Jared Cook and pass-catching back Alvin Kamara at his disposal, Drew Brees was given yet another weapon with the acquisition of Pro Bowl wideout Emmanuel Sanders.
Defensively, Cameron Jordan is coming off a career-high 15.5 sacks and three-time Pro Bowl strong safety Malcolm Jenkins returns to the Big Easy after six seasons in Philadelphia.
New Orleans is gunning for its fourth straight NFC South title, and success in divisional games has been a big reason why. The Saints have won nine of their last 11 games overall against divisional foes, and nine of their last 12 at home.
Betting Pick: UNDER 49.5
Without any preseason games to prepare, Brady may struggle a bit early this season until he becomes more familiar with the Bucs offense. This contest also features two of the league’s top four run defenses from a year ago.