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The Atlanta Falcons (6-9) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) wrap up their 2019 seasons in an NFC South rivalry clash Sunday of Week 17 at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. We analyze the Falcons-Buccaneers odds and sports betting lines, while providing NFL betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Falcons at Buccaneers: Week 17 preview, betting trends and notes
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- The Falcons and Bucs enter Week 17 projected to pick fifth and 13th overall, respectively, in the 2020 NFL Draft.
- The Buccaneers took a 35-22 victory in Atlanta when the two sides met in Week 12.
- The Falcons have won three straight games and are 5-2 since entering their bye week at 1-7. The Bucs took a 23-20 loss at home against the Houston Texans Saturday of Week 16 to snap a four-game winning streak.
- Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston threw another four interceptions in the Week 16 loss and now sits at 28 on the year. He has thrown at least two interceptions in eight of 15 games, including two against the Falcons in Week 12.
- Falcons WR Julio Jones has totaled 300 receiving yards over the last two games.
- Winston (4,908) leads the league in passing yards. Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin (1,333) and Jones (1,316) rank second and third, respectively, in receiving yards.
- The Buccaneers and Falcons rank 25th and 30th, respectively, in team rushing yards per game.
- Only two teams have allowed more points on the year than Tampa Bay’s 421 through 15 games.
Falcons at Buccaneers: Key injuries
Godwin (hamstring) is unlikely to play for the Buccaneers, joining WRs Mike Evans and Scotty Miller on the shelf.
The Falcons will remain without WR Calvin Ridley and CB Desmond Trufant.
Falcons at Buccaneers: Odds, betting lines and prediction
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Falcons 24, Buccaneers 18
Moneyline (?)
Take the FALCONS (-106) as very slight road dogs. The Buccaneers’ depleted receiving corps cost them against the Texans, as Winston was forced into making bad throws to sub-par receivers. Atlanta has played its best football over the last three weeks and will be able to pad on one more meaningless win against their division rivals.
The Falcons are 3-4 on the road while the Bucs are just 2-5 at home.
Against the Spread (?)
Back the Falcons to win outright rather than accepting the lower -115 odds for them to cover a spread of just +1.5. The single point of insurance in the event of a loss isn’t worth taking a 70 cent hit in profit on a $10 wager.
Atlanta is 7-8 against the spread overall and Tampa Bay is 5-8-2. Take the healthier visitors to simply win outright as underdogs.
Over/Under (?)
UNDER 48.5 (-110) is the play. It’s tied for the highest projected total of the week. The Bucs put up just 20 points last week with their depleted receiving corps and the Falcons are just 6-9 against the Over/Under for the year. The irrelevance of the game for both sides will detract from the offensive output.
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Esten’s NFL betting record: 50-45
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