After their 28-13 loss to the Detroit Lions, it’s clear to the NFL betting community that the New Orleans Saints’ lacked the energy, the execution, and the defense to overcome the Lions, let alone make a push for the playoffs. At the start of the season the sportsbooks were convinced that the Carolina Panthers would be the ones winning the NFC South in 2016. But in the wake of the Panthers’ disastrous season the South was left wide open and any team could’ve capitalized on the opportunity. Unfortunately for New Orleans fans, the Saints failed to do so and at 5-7 New Orleans is very much out of the playoff discussion.
In Week 14 the Saints will have to face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs will be welcoming the Saints into their home to tee off for the first time this year. Tampa Bay will be coming into Sunday’s matchup with a 7-5 record and a very good opportunity to either win the South or clinch a Wild Card spot. The Bucs are currently tied with the Falcons atop the division and need a win to remain relevant in the playoff race. Let’s see what the NFL betting odds have to say about this NFC South rivalry.
NFL Odds – Week 14 – Sunday, December 11th
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2½ (-110) 51½ (-110) -140
New Orleans Saints +2½ (-110) 51½ (-110) +120
Since the Saints have a worst record than the Bucs, fans can expect the majority of football betting sites to side with Tampa Bay this Sunday. As aforementioned, this will be the first time that these two teams are facing each other, which is a little odd considering how late we are in the season. Because of this the Saints will be forced to face the Bucs again in Week 16, just two weeks out from Sunday’s game. Ultimately, this will be good news or bad news for Tampa Bay, depending on how Sunday’s contest develops.
Looking over both these teams’ numbers, it’s clear that the Bucs will have their hands full this Sunday. New Orleans may not be considered an elite team, but their passing game is top-notch. Thanks to Drew Brees’ incredible accuracy, the Saints passing offense ranks as the best in the entire NFL. In fact, the Saints passing game is so superior that even though they have the 12th worst rushing offense, their total offense still ranks as the best in the league. That’s no easy feat and since the Bucs have the 15th worst passing defense in the NFL, it will be up to Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers offense to lead this team to victory. With that in mind, fans can see why the NFL betting odds are rather even for this game.
