Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons December 10, 2023 – The 5-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the 6-6 Atlanta Falcons in an important NFC South matchup in Week 14. With both teams still in the hunt for a playoff spot, this game will have major implications in the NFL betting picks for the playoff picture. Let’s break down the betting odds and trends and make our predictions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons December 10, 2023 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 10, 1:00 PM ET |
| Where: | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Baker Mayfield QB vs. Desmond Ridder QB
Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has had an inconsistent and often disappointing season. Over 12 games, he completed 260 of 409 passing attempts (63.6%) for 2790 passing yards at an average of 232.5 per game and 18 touchdowns against 8 interceptions for an overall performance rating of 90 passer rating.
Desmond Ridder of the Atlanta Falcons has shown considerable promise during his 10 games for them. In these contests, Ridder has had a 65.2% completion rate with 1908 passing yards and 7 touchdowns. Unfortunately, 8 interceptions and 25 sacks taken has resulted in an 82.4 passer rating, indicating areas for growth and adjustments against NFL defenses.
Buccaneers’ Offensive Weapons: Mayfield’s Arm, White’s Legs, Evans’ Hands
On the ground, Rachaad White leads the Bucs with 643 yards rushing and 5 TDs while averaging a solid 3.7 yards per carry. Leonard Fournette is healthy again though which cuts into White’s workload. In the passing game, Mike Evans is clearly Mayfield’s top target, racking up 1,012 receiving yards and 10 TDs. Chris Godwin and Julio Jones round out a strong receiving trio.
Falcons’ Key Playmakers: Ridder’s Leadership, Robinson’s Rushing, London’s Receiving
The Falcons have found a gem in rookie running back Bijan Robinson. In 11 games played he has 703 rushing yards, 5 yards per carry, and 3 TDs. He adds explosiveness to their ground attack. Through the air, Drake London leads Atlanta with 565 receiving yards although the passing game still lacks firepower. There’s an opportunity for other WRs like Bryan Edwards and Olamide Zaccheaus to step up here.
NFL Betting Odds: Atlanta Falcons -130, Over/Under: 40
The betting odds favor the Falcons slightly, indicating a close contest. The over/under set at 40 points suggests a game of moderate scoring, in line with both teams’ recent trends.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends
Tampa Bay are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Tampa Bay’s last 10 games.
Tampa Bay are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games.
Buccaneers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games against Atlanta.
Tampa Bay are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons Betting Trends
Atlanta are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Atlanta’s last 18 games.
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Atlanta’s last 15 games against Tampa Bay.
Atlanta are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games at home.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta’s last 7 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay.
Atlanta are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games against an opponent in the National Football Conference conference.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons Betting Picks
Considering the performances and trends, this matchup appears evenly matched, with a slight edge to the Falcons due to their home-field advantage. The Buccaneers, despite their struggles, cannot be discounted, especially given their historical performance against Atlanta.
From a betting perspective, the Falcons might be the slightly better pick, particularly with the -2.5 spread. However, considering the over/under trends, the over on total points could be a viable option. For those looking at top USA sportsbook choices, prop bets on individual performances like Mayfield’s passing yards or Robinson’s rushing efforts could provide additional intrigue.
Score Predictions: Falcons 24, Buccaneers 21
