Buccaneers vs. Saints Game Preview & NFL Week 9 Betting Pick.

Buccaneers vs. Saints Game Preview & NFL Week 9 Betting Pick

Written by on November 3, 2017

The streaking New Orleans Saints are on fire! The struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ice-cold! Now, let’s find out if Drew Brees and the Saints should be your NFL Week 9 Betting Pick or if Jameis Winston and the Bucs can snap out of the nasty losing streak they’ve been in recently. New Orleans is a 7-point home favorite when these two division rivals square off in the Big Easy at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET while airing live on FOX TV.

Tampa Bay (2-5) at New Orleans (5-2) Game Preview & NFL Week 9 Betting Pick

  • When: Sunday, November 5, 2017, 1:00 PM ET
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
  • TV: FOX
  • Radio: 620 AM (Tampa Bay) / 105.3 FM (New Orleans)
  • Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
  • NFL Odds: New Orleans Saints -6.5 (Over/Under at 52)

Weather Forecast

  • Partly Cloudy: 27°C/80°F
  • Humidity: 65%
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Cloud Cover: 42%
  • Wind: 8 mph S
  • Stadium Type: Indoor

Can Seattle Back the Week 9 NFL Betting Odds Against Washington?

Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)

  • Record: Saints lead 8-2
  • Score: Buccaneers 19.30 / Saints 27.90
  • Rush Yards: Buccaneers 110.00 / Saints 97.30
  • Pass Attempts: Buccaneers 32.90/ Saints 40.20
  • Completion Percentage: Buccaneers 57.45 / Saints 65.92
  • Passing Yards: Buccaneers 219.90 / Saints 304.20
  • Total Yards: Buccaneers 329.9 / Saints 401.5
  • Turnovers: Buccaneers 1.40 / Saints 1.50

Why should the Buccaneers be your NFL Week 9 Betting Pick?

The Buccaneers come into their Week 9 matchup against New Orleans riding a four-game losing streak that includes their dismal 17-3 loss against Carolina last weekend that marked the first time they’ve failed to score a touchdown since drafting Winston in 2015. Clearly, Tampa Bay’s franchise signal-caller is dealing the effect of a shoulder injury he suffered two weeks ago. Winston was listed as “limited,” on Wednesday, but Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter said he did “fine.” “You always want your starting quarterback out there taking every rep,” Koetter said. “The fact that he was only practicing one day a week, that’s not any coach’s or player’s preference, especially for your quarterback. I have a ton of confidence in Jameis, and he’s played very well at times this year. I know he can do it.” Winston was limited to modest 210 passing yards against the Panthers and failed to throw a touchdown pass while tossing two costly interceptions. Still, Tampa Bay ranks second in the NFL in passing yards per game (295.4) to New England (302.1). “They are moving the ball very well — near the top of the league in passing offense — and I think they’re explosive in that way,” Payton said.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Average Score For: 21.14
  • Total Yards: 376.57
  • Rush Yards: 80.86
  • Passing Yards: 295.71
Defense
  • Average Score Against: 24.00
  • Total Yards: 386.42
  • Rush Yards: 111.71
  • Passing Yards: 274.71

Why should the Saints be your NFL Week 9 Betting Pick?

As far as future Hall of Fame signal-caller Drew Brees and the Saints are concerned, they’re playing some of the best football we’ve seen out of the franchise in years after the suffered through three straight 7-9 seasons that left them on the outside looking in come playoff time. “It validates the process,” said Brees. “You feel good about your preparation through the week and your routine.” New Orleans has won five consecutive games including what looked like a routine 20-12 win over Chicago as a 7.5-point home favorite last weekend. With Drew Brees under center, the Saints should be your NFL Week 9 Betting Pick. “That’s encouraging, but you also realize the games are only getting tougher and more important and more at stake, and we’ve got to continue to fine tune and get better and better.” Brees completed a scorching 23 of 28 passes for 299 yards to lead the Saints to the win but failed to toss a TD pass for the first time this season. No matter, running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamura added one rushing score apiece in the victory although Ingram fumbled twice in the final quarter. “I’m sure he’ll respond,” Payton said. “It’s every once in awhile something like this happens. I know he was disappointed, upset. I was upset. Situationally, you’re carrying the ball and carrying everyone’s hopes and dreams, not just your own. He’ll work to fix that, and I’m sure he will.” “Mark’s awesome,” Brees said. “There’s no guy that I’d rather go into a game with, there’s not a guy that I care about more on this team than him or that I know is as prideful about what he does. He is the heart and soul of this team.”

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Average Score For: 27.29
  • Total Yards: 390.42
  • Rush Yards: 118.71
  • Passing Yards: 271.71
Defense
  • Average Score Against: 20.71
  • Total Yards: 344.72
  • Rush Yards: 120.29
  • Passing Yards: 224.43

Latest Betting Trends for NFL Week 9

  • Buccaneers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
  • Buccaneers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games
  • Saints are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
  • Saints are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of New Orleans’s last 10 games

Expert Analysis and NFL Week 9 Betting Pick

New Orleans has some blemishes, but the Saints are also playing better defense than they have in ages. For me, it looks like Tampa Bay is in big trouble in this contest with Jameis Winston clearly not back to 100 percent health. The Saints are ranked 12th in points allowed (20.7 ppg) and have held four of their last five opponents to 17 points or less. The Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in the last five games against their NFC South division rivals, 0-3-1 ATS in their last four road games and 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games overall. On the flip side of the coin, the Saints are 6-0 ATS in their last six games following a straight-up win and a blistering 8-1 ATS in their last nine games versus a team with a losing record. New Orleans has also gone an incendiary 10-2 ATS in their last dozen games against their division rivals, making them the easy pick to win and cover the spread in this one! Pick: New Orleans -7