by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Sep 17, 2022
Game time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Buccaneers -2.5
FanDuel: Buccaneers -2.5
BetMGM: Buccaneers -2.5
Caesars: Buccaneers -2.5
Season record
Buccaneers: 1-0
Saints: 1-0
Week 2 in the NFL season is already off to a hot start with Kansas City showing why it's Kansas City. What will Sunday bring in what should be a week filled with questions that need to be answered upon the like? Given the fact that Al McMordie is 56-33 in his last 89 is a testament to how much you should be paying attention to our champion handicappers and following along with what they do this year. Want to get on the action? Make sure you follow Al and all of our other handicappers during this NFL season.
Buccaneers - Saints preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Buccaneers: won 19-3 at Cowboys
Saints: won 27-26 at Falcons
For sole supremacy of the NFC South comes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, which of course that’s the case. Of course these two would be 1-0 and already fighting for the division title, because of course it is. And if the Saints win this week they’re going to win the Super Bowl.
For sole supremacy of the NFC South comes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, which of course that’s the case. Of course these two would be 1-0 and already fighting for the division title, because of course it is. And if the Saints win this week they’re going to win the Super Bowl.
OK, maybe not that extreme, because the Bucs are winning this game and there should be no further discussion as to who will outduel the other between Tom Brady and Jameis Winston. And if you pick the latter, may God have mercy on your soul.
But perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the Saints’ potential impact of winning this game. It will come down to Jameis, but the fact the Saints swept the season series last year, and did so in convincing fashion, there might be a slimmer of hope especially with how solid that defense is supposed to be this year.
But the Bucs’ defense isn’t too shabby either, as evidence of how they destroyed the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football last week, keeping Dallas out of the end zone and making Dak Prescott look like he’s incapable of throwing the football. And the Cowboys’ receivers didn’t help at all with that either, so I digress.
Brady didn’t do a lot offensively, but did enough to win. He threw for 212 yards and a touchdown in the win, while Leonard Fournette had 137 yards from scrimmage with 127 coming on the ground. That was all the Bucs needed with that defense stifling Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. Devin White had two sacks, and Antoine Winfield had a pick.
"I always play the game for my team, my teammates and the organization," Brady said. "Just being around them is something I always enjoy. It keeps me very grounded, very humble. I feel like just one of the guys. Not many places where I can go where I feel like just one of the guys, but the locker room's definitely one of those places."
Personal issues aside for Brady, he’s going to turn it on at some point. He got Chris Godwin back and Mike Evans looked good. Even though there is no more Gronk, Tampa’s offense under Todd Bowles can continue to get better as the year goes on.
While the Bucs dominated, however, the Saints had to pull off an incredible comeback with 17 points in the fourth quarter and beating the Atlanta Falcons 27-26 on the road. Winston was great throwing for 269 yards and two touchdowns, and Michael Thomas caught both of those touchdowns in his first game in over a year.
Dennis Allen’s Saints debut went off without a hitch. As long as it doesn’t result in his Raiders tenure, they’ll be fine.
"I hope they're not all like that," Allen said. "Look, our team is tough and gritty. That's what I love about 'em. That's exactly the way they played in this game. It wasn't perfect. We've got a ton of things to clean up."
Prediction
Even though the Saints may have their number lately, and the Allen defense should play well, Touchdown Tom always finds a way. I think he gets it done in this one and the Bucs go to 2-0. Buccaneers by 8
Betting trends
Buccaneers are 12-4 ATS off an under in their last 16 instances.
Buccaneers are 29-38 ATS as a road favorite since 1992.
Over is 14-3 when the Buccaneers win by 10 or more the previous week in the past three seasons.
Over is 12-4 off an over with the Saints in their last 16 instances.
Over is 5-1 in the Saints' last six after a win by six or less.
Statistical leaders
Buccaneers:
Passing: Tom Brady -- 212 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Leonard Fournette -- 127 yards
Receiving: Mike Evans -- 71 yards, 1 TD
Defense: Devin White -- 2 sacks
Saints:
Passing: Jameis Winston -- 269 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: Taysom Hill -- 81 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Jarvis Landry -- 114 yards
Defense: N/A
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Tampa Bay Buccaneers - New Orleans Saints prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
