Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will hit the road in an NFL week 17 pro football game against NFC south divisional rival the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
Kick off time from New Orleans is scheduled for 1PM Eastern Time with television coverage provided by FOX.
The point spread opened up with the home team New Orleans Saints favored by -8 points with an over under of 48 points.
The early money from the NFL pro football bettors has come on the side of the home team as the New Orleans Saints have been bet up to a -9 point favorite. The total has moved down to 47 ½ points.
New Orleans Saints money line bettors will lay -390 odds with the road underdog Tampa Bay Buccaneers bringing back +320 odds to post the upset victory without the aid of taking the points.
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When these two NFC south divisional clubs met in their first meeting this season it was all New Orleans as the Saints pounded the Buccaneers 31-6 as a -5 ½ point road favorite on October 17th. The game landed under the closing total of 43 ½ points.
The Saints offense dominated in victory with 212 yards rushing on 32 carries and Drew Brees in the passing game completed 21 of 32 passes for 263 yards with three touchdowns and one pick.
Running back Chris Ivory had a big game for the Saints with 158 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Quarterback Josh Freeman for the Buccaneers hit on 25 of 43 passes for 219 yards with a touchdown and no picks. LeGarrette Blount did not see action.
Tampa Bay enters this contest with an overall record of 9-6 on the season. The club puts up 21 points and 336 yards per game.
The team plays its eighth road game of the year where they stand at 5-2. Their lone two road losses came at Baltimore and Atlanta the only two winning teams on their road schedule thus far.
The Buccaneers playoff hopes hinge only in a victory against the Saints and losses by both the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.
The team is coming off a 38-15 home victory last week against the Seattle Seahawks as a -5 ½ point favorite.
Tampa Bay put up 439 yards and converted on 6 of 11 on third down. The team ran the ball down the throat of the Seahawks with 208 yards on 26 carries for 8 yards per rush. The Buccaneers got in the end zone in three of four red zone appearances.
Quarterback Josh Freeman completed 21 of 26 passes for 237 yards with five touchdowns and no picks. Freeman ran the ball 4 times for 23 yards.
Running back LeGarrette Blount on 18 carries ran for 164 yards. Cadillac Williams on four carries had 21 yards rushing.
Tight end Kellen Winslow led the team with 7 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Mike Williams contributed with 3 catches for 44 yards and two scores.
On defense the Buccaneers allows its opponents 20 points and 334 yards per game.
They gave up just 174 yards to the Seahawks and 5 of 15 on third down. Tampa Bay allowed their NFC west foe to run it for 90 yards on 28 carries for a 3.2 yards per rush average. They allowed the opposing quarterbacks to hit on 14 of 22 passes for 90 yards with no touchdowns and picks.
New Orleans enters play in week 17 with an overall record of 11-4 this season. The team averages 25 points and 378 yards per game.
The Saints play at home for the eighth time on the season where they are 5-2. Their two home losses came against the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns.
New Orleans has clinched a playoff spot. They have a shot for the NFC south division and home field for the entire NFC playoffs with a win against Tampa Bay and a loss by the Falcons against the Panthers.
New Orleans is coming off a big 17-14 playoff clinching victory against the Atlanta Falcons as a +2 point underdog.
The Saints put up 368 yards and converted on 8 of 17 on third down. The team ran the ball 24 times for 72 yards for a 3.0 yards per rush average. New Orleans turned it over twice and took two away from the Falcons.
Quarterback Drew Brees completed 35 of 49 passes for 302 yards with a touchdown and two picks. One interception was returned for an Atlanta touchdown.
Running back Pierre Thomas on 19 carries ran for 63 yards and a score. Thomas had 7 catches out of the backfield for 39 yards.
Wide out Robert Meachem led the team with 10 catches for 101 yards. Lance Moore contributed with four catches for 48 yards.
On defense the club gives up 19 points and 312 yards per game.
The Saints allowed the Falcons offense only 215 yards and to convert on 3 of 12 on third down. New Orleans allowed their division opponent to pedestrian numbers on the ground with just 75 yards on 22 carries for a 3.4 yards per rush average. The Saints defense allowed a high powered Falcons offense to just 7 points as the other 7 points came via a defensive touchdown.
New Orleans allowed the opposing quarterback to hit on 15 of 29 passes for 148 yards with a touchdown and no picks.
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NFL Trend: Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 6-0-1 ATS on the road this season.
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