How to bet on the Buccaneers vs Saints
We correctly picked this regular season matchup (read below) and we are ready for the playoffs with this prediction and pick against the spread.
The first week of the National Football League is always exciting. The betting window opens and fans flock to place a few bucks on their favorite team. There is always one game that stands out from the rest and if you bet on it and you are not informed, it will cost you money. This is why before you make your week 1 pick against the spread, you must know how to bet on the Buccaneers vs Saints.
Starts with the numbers
If you are going to bet on this game, you have to know the NFL odds. The Saints started out as (-4) point favorites when this line was first announced. But so much has changed. The Buccaneers welcome Tom Brady from the Patriots as well as other stars like Leonard Fournette and Rob Gronkowski to the offense and the public started backing the Buccaneers. The highest-rated sports betting sites show that the Bucs are getting nearly 60 percent of all of the wagers on this game and that is causing the point spread to move in their favor. The line has slightly lowered and now the Saints are (-3.5) at most major sports betting outlets.
Dome sweet dome?
The Saints have one of the best home-field advantages in the National Football League. The loud fans, the crazy atmosphere, and the noise level are all things that make it hard to play in the Big Easy. At home games, the Saints have outscored opponents 242-224 averaging just over 30 points per game. That did not always equate to a win at the betting window. The Saints are just 22-30 against the spread (ATS) since 2014.
Whatever advantage they may have from the fan base is all but gone with the concern over the COVID-19 virus. The Saints will not allow any fans for this game and they have even banned tailgating. Although the Saints will pipe in crowd noise, it will not be the same.
Bringing in Brady
Whenever a team brings in a player like Tom Brady, it’s going to be heralded as a big move. This is especially true for a Buccaneers team that last many plays because of the quarterback play. Think about this the Bucs had halftime leads in 10 games last season and won just six. Brady along with Fournette, Gronkowski, and LeSean McCoy will change that narrative, but are they a good bet in the season opener?
Tracking the trends
Many may discount Buccaneer trends considering that Brady is now at the helm, but there are a few that are worth noting. For example, the Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in the last five games in the division and just 4-9 ATS in the first game of the season. Dating back to last season, the Saints are on an 11-4 ATS run profiting backers who bet on this team.
How to bet on the Buccaneers vs Saints: the pick
The Saints are 5-3 in home openers and all but one of those games have been decided by eight points are less. The mistake that most NFL fans will do is bet on names. There is no doubt that that Buccaneers have incredible talent on offense, but how will they fare in the first game will real action? Fournette just signed, and Gronk, McCoy, and Brady are not getting any younger. They have to learn a new offense and execute right away. With all due respect to Brady that will not be easy to do the first time that he steps on the field. The favorite has covered 6 of the last 8 meetings and that trend will continue in week one.