Bucs – Falcons
Time: 1 PM ET, Oct 20, 2013
Spread: ATL -7
M/L: ATL -265; TAM +225
O/U: 43
Betting Odds Courtesy of 5dimes
Tampa Bay is still winless on the season, but there had to be a little encouragement drawn from Mike Glennon’s takeover as the QB after the Bucs parted ways with Josh Freeman.
Glennon completed 26 of 43 passes for 273 yards with two TDs, though he did throw a pick. The pass offense was productive, and Glennon rushed for an additional 20 yards on three carriers while Doug Martin gained 67 yards on 16 carries. The Bucs just couldn’t find the end zone often enough though and fell 31-20 to Philly.
Being 0-5 isn’t fun enough without an MRSA outbreak, though. Carl Nicks, Lawrence Tynes and Johnthan Banks were all infected, and Nicks even required surgery on the infection. It’s just more madness to a season that could end up being one of the worst in Bucs history.
NFL oddsmakers at 5dimes seem to be giving the Bucs a lot of credit in setting the line just 7-points in Atlanta’s favor, but the team has lost three games by a combined total of six points.
Other than having one of the worst pass offenses in the league, there are other facets the Bucs have been decent at. Defensively, they rank about the middle of the league in both pass and rush defense, so that is a positive grounds towards potentially reeling off some victories.
Atlanta has weathered a disappointing season of their own, as losers of their last three to Miami, New England and the New York Jets. The pass defense has been particularly horrible, and offensively the Jets backs aren’t giving the team much.
In fact, the offense is patently one-dimensional. Jacquizz Rodgers leads the Jets in rushing yardage with just 177 on the season, and averages just 3.4 yards per carry.
Matt Ryan has had a good year throwing the ball thus far, with a 69.3 percent completion ratio and a 100.9 QB rating, but Atlanta has to get something from its backfield to vary the offense up.
Tampa Betting Trends:
0-5 ATS vs teams with losing records; OVER 4-0 in last 4 vs teams with losing home records; UNDER 4-0 in last 4 road games.
Atlanta Betting Trends:
4-0 ATS in last 4 when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game; OVER 4-0 in last 4 overall; OVER 5-0 in last 5 at home.
Head-to-head: Bucs 5-1 ATS in last 6 in ATL; Road Team 6-2-1 ATS in last 9 meetings; Favorite 3-1-1 ATS in last 5 meetings.
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