Matchup: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had high hopes with the arrival of Lovie Smith as head coach but so far it looks like more of the same as they have stumbled out of the gate with a pair of close losses in which poor QB play proved to be the difference. After an impressive and promising week one win the Atlanta Falcons were exposed in a bad loss last week as their defense looks like a problem that will potentially keep them out of the post season.
The Atlanta Falcons will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on Thursday night with coverage on CBS starting at 8:25 PM ET. Atlanta opened as a six point favorite with a total of 44.5. Check BetDSI for the latest NFL odds.
McCown Needs to Buc Up
Tampa Bay is 0-2 straight up and against the spread with both of their games going under the total. The Bucs are coming off a 19-17 loss to St. Louis for their second consecutive home defeat. Quarterback Josh McCown has not been the answer so far with a QB rating of 75.1 and a 2-to-3 TD/INT ratio as the Bucs rank next to last for passing offense.
Defenseless Birds
Atlanta is 1-1 both straight up and against the spread after last week’s 24-10 loss at Cincinnati. The Falcons rank dead last in the NFL for total defense but QB Matt Ryan does trigger the NFL’s second ranked passing attack.
Matchup and Pick
Tampa Bay has been a weak board value on the road with just three payouts in their last 11 away games as seven out of their last 10 road games have gone under the total. Atlanta has covered the spread in five out of their last nine home games as eight out of their last 11 home games have gone over the total. Atlanta has struggled to hold board value against Tampa Bay with just four payouts in their last 14 games with the Bucs as five out of the last eight meetings in this series have gone over the total. Tampa Bay has covered the spread in 10 out of their last 14 games at Atlanta as three out of the last four games between the Falcons and Bucs have gone over the total. We’ll call for Tampa Bay and under in this NFC South showdown.
