by Rod Pearson
Saturday, Dec 30, 2023
Game Time: 1:00 pm ET, Sunday, December 31, 2023
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Where to Watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Saints +2.5, Buccaneers -2.5; Over/Under: 42 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Saints +2.5, Buccaneers -2.5; Over/Under: 42.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Saints +2.5, Buccaneers -2.5; Over/Under: 42.5 points
Season Record
New Orleans Saints: 7-8 (3rd place, NFC South)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-7 (1st place, NFC South)
Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Brian Bitler is on a HOT STREAK in the NFL on a 14-5 NFL RUN for +$8,540 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.
Recent Form
New Orleans Saints: lost their last game on the road against the Los Angeles Rams 30-22.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: won their last game at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-12.
New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview and Analysis
The Saints are entering this game with a 7-8 record overall and they have a 2-2 record in their divisional games too. They are 4-3 in their home games, 3-5 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They lost their last game against the LA Rams 30-22. Derek Carr was the starting QB and he completed 27/40 passes for 319 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Alvin Kamara led the team in rushing yards with 19. Chris Olave led the receivers with 123 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Paulson Adebo led the defense in that game with 9 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Carl Granderson led the defense in sacks with 1. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that game.
The Buccaneers are entering this game with an 8-7 record overall and they have a 3-1 record in their divisional games too. They are 4-3 in their home games, 4-4 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They won their last game against the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-12. Baker Mayfield was the starting QB and he completed 26/35 passes for 283 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Rachaad White led the team in rushing yards with 39 and 1 TD. Mike Evans led the receivers with 86 receiving yards on 7 receptions and 2 TDs. Lavonte David led the defense in that game with 8 solo tackles and 0 assisted tackles while YaYa Diaby led the defense in sacks with 1.5. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Devin White each came away with 1 interception for them in that game.
Saints vs Buccaneers Prediction
The current betting odds have the Buccaneers listed as a 2.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Buccaneers have looked good in their games this season with their 8-7 record overall which is leading the NFC South right now. They have looked really good in their games lately as the team has been playing some of their best football in December and they are in a position where they control their own fate to win the division. Meanwhile, the Saints have looked good at times in their games with their 7-8 record overall but they were leading this division at one point during the season before falling off the map now. They have looked terrible in their games lately as they continue to lose the important games they need to win. The Bucs have all the momentum on their side with the way they have looked over the last few weeks and they look like a team that is playoff bound right now. The Bucs will be motivated in this game as they move closer to clinching the division with a win. The best way to place a bet here is on the Buccaneers to cover the spread in this game.
Saints Buccaneers Prediction: Our NFL Pick for Sunday, December 31, 2023 (1:00 pm ET start time) is Buccaneers 28 Saints 17.
Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this New Orleans Saints Tampa Bay Buccaneers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NFL predictions and previews.
NFL Betting Trends
New Orleans Saints: 4-10 ATS in all games. 0-7 ATS after playing their last game on the road. 3-6 ATS after 1 or more consecutive losses against the spread. 31-18 UNDER in all games. 15-8 UNDER as an underdog. 18-5 UNDER in all games where the total is between 35.5 and 42 points.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-5 ATS in all games. 6-3 ATS after 1 or more consecutive wins against the spread. 6-1 UNDER after allowing 75 or less rushing yards last game. 15-6 UNDER off an upset win by 14 points or more as an underdog.
Key Injuries
New Orleans Saints: L. Hedley (P) Ques Sun - Illness. E. McCoy (C) Prob Sun - Foot. C. Jordan (DE) Prob Sun - Ankle. J. Howden (DB) Prob Sun - Illness. R. Ramczyk (OT) Out Sun - Knee. L. Johnson Jr. (CB) Out Sun - Knee. C. Olave (WR) Prob Sun - Ankle. A. Kamara (RB) Ques Sun - Illness. P. Turner (DE) Ques Sun - Toe. I. Foskey (DE) Ques Sun - Quadricep. N. Saldiveri (OL) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. K. Miller (RB) Out indefinitely - Ankle. M. Roach (DL) Out indefinitely - Knee. M. Maye (S) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. M. Lattimore (CB) Out indefinitely - Ankle. M. Thomas (WR) Out indefinitely - Knee. E. Benjamin (RB) I-R - Achilles. A. Dowell (LB) I-R - Knee. T. Turner (G) I-R - Quadricep.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: K. Kieft (TE) Out Sun - Shoulder. R. Jarrett (WR) Out Sun - Quadricep. M. Greene (DL) Out Sun - Calf. S. Barrett (LB) Out Sun - Groin. C. Davis III (CB) Out Sun - Concussion. R. Jensen (C) I-R - Knee. R. Gage (WR) I-R - Knee.
Notable Quotes
“We certainly would have liked to start the game and play better, but we didn’t. We’re not into the percentages. We let an opportunity go by, and now we have to get ready for the things we can control. We’ll regroup. We’re still in this thing." - Dennis Allen after his team’s loss against the LA Rams in their last game.
“He's been outstanding in December. That's what you want from your quarterback.” - Todd Bowles on Baker Mayfield after his team’s win against the Jaguars in their last game.
Starting Lineups
New Orleans Saints
WR Perry, A.T.
WR Olave, Chris
WR Shaheed, Rashid
TE Johnson, Juwan
QB Carr, Derek
RB Kamara, Alvin
FB Prentice, Adam
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Evans, Mike
WR Godwin, Chris
WR Palmer, Trey
TE Otton, Cade
QB Mayfield, Baker
RB White, Rachaad
Statistical Leaders
New Orleans Saints
Passing: D. Carr (3417)
Rushing: A. Kamara (649)
Receiving: C. Olave (1041)
Touchdowns: A. Kamara (6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Passing: B. Mayfield (3598)
Rushing: R. White (873)
Receiving: M. Evans (1163)
Touchdowns: M. Evans (13)
Coaches:
New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen (2nd season)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles (2nd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
