QB Tom Brady and the new-look Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin their 2020 campaign Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Saints Sunday of Week 1. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET. Below, we preview the Buccaneers-Saints betting odds and lines and make our NFL picks and best bets.
Buccaneers at Saints betting odds and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 2:15 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Buccaneers +155 (bet $100, win $155) | Saints -182 (Bet $182, win $100)
- Against the Spread/ATS: Buccaneers +3.5 (-110) | Saints -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 47.5 (O: -110, U: -110)
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Buccaneers at Saints game notes
- The Saints have beaten the Buccaneers in each of their last three meetings and in five of their last seven. Going all the way back to 2011, the Saints are 13-5 against the Bucs.
- This will be Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski‘s first game in a uniform besides those of the New England Patriots after the two wound up in Tampa Bay this offseason via free agency and trade, respectively.
- The Saints have better odds to win the Super Bowl, but only slightly ahead of the Buccaneers. New Orleans is +1200 (third-best), while the Buccaneers are +1400 (T-4).
- The Buccaneers are 8-11 in Week 1 games since 2000, including a 2-4 stretch in their last six.
- The Saints are 9-11 in their last 20 Week 1 games but have gone just 1-5 since 2014.
Buccaneers at Saints key injuries
Buccaneers
- WR Mike Evans (hamstring) questionable
Saints
- DE Marcus Davenport (elbow) questionable
- OL Cesar Ruiz (ankle) questionable
Buccaneers at Saints: Odds, betting lines, picks and prediction
Prediction
Saints 24, Buccaneers 21
Moneyline (?)
The Bucs-Saints rivalry got a lot more interesting when Brady and Gronk came aboard, but it could take a little time for this team to mesh on the field – especially after a condensed offseason with no preseason games. The Saints look similar to last year’s team, which will afford them the benefit of cohesion and continuity.
The Saints are favored for a reason, even if the Superdome won’t be as loud as usual. Take the SAINTS (-182) to win outright at home over the new Brady Bunch.
Against the Spread (?)
The Saints come in as 3.5-point favorites, the third year in a row they’ve been favored in a Week 1 matchup. This isn’t the usual Bucs team they’ve faced and beaten twice in season openers before, though.
Brady will keep the score close and the Bucs defense will do enough to slow down Brees, RB Alvin Kamara and WR Michael Thomas, covering the spread down to the wire.
Take the BUCS +3.5 (-110) and stay within 3 points in a loss or win outright.
Over/Under (?)
The Over/Under is set at 47.5 points, which is about where you’d expect it to be. There will be some first-game jitters on both sides, especially after the preseason was canceled, but they’ll knock off the rust at some point during the game.
They still won’t push the total over 47.5 points, though. Both defenses are good enough to slow down the opposing offense, particularly New Orleans’. Take the UNDER 47.5 (-110).
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