Betting Online Overview: The NFL betting lines for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have been so much more favorable if it had been almost any other opponent in any other venue. If the Bucs want to be part of the playoff football betting, then they will have to beat a New Orleans Saints team that is so ready for the playoffs that they can feel the first round coming. The price per head predictions in this game are not going to favor the Bucs. There are ways that the Buccaneers can win this game, and Tampa Bay has the personnel to get the job done. But with quarterback Drew Brees driving the Saints towards the playoffs, it may be a matter of the veteran quarterback’s experience beating the Buccaneer’s ability. Offense: Both of these teams are lacking a running game. The difference is that the Saints have one of the most powerful passing attacks in the league, and the Buccaneers are still developing. Tampa has found their quarterback in Josh Freeman. Freeman has developed steadily this season and has shown flashes of brilliance at times. But he is still learning how to be a consistent winner in the NFL, and the Saints are in no mood to take it easy on a young and developing quarterback. You would think that between running backs Chris Ivory, Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas that the Saints would have one of the best running games in the league. But injuries and inconsistent offensive line play have grounded the rushing game almost to a halt. What keeps the Saints going on offense is Drew Brees. When Brees is on and hitting his passes, the Saints are an extremely difficult team to beat. Defense: The Buccaneers have a defense built to stop the New Orleans Saints. Tampa is weak against the run but very strong against the pass. They have a tenacious pass rush that can also contain the running game at the line of scrimmage. The Bucs get penetration into the offensive backfield on a pretty regular basis, and they have several veterans on the defense that know what they are doing in almost any given situation. The Bucs defense is ranked sixth against the pass, and that should be enough to give Drew Brees problems all day long. Throw the season stats out the window for the Saints defense because they have been up to the task the past six weeks. It isn’t how many yards or points the defense has allowed, it is the way that the Saints defense has been able to protect a lead late in the game. They are getting pressure up front and the secondary is playing extremely well. As the game wears on, the Saints defense becomes more of a factor. The Bottom Line: This game should be close, but it won’t be. The Buccaneers need this game to have any shot at making the playoffs, but the Saints are not going to take the foot off the gas now. New Orleans wants momentum going into the playoffs, and a win like this will provide that momentum. Pick: New Orleans Saints
