Falcons vs. Bucs Week 17 Prediction
The Bucs will be locked into the fifth seed with a win over the Falcons on Sunday, but will drop to the sixth-seed with a loss and a Rams’ win over the Cardinals. Will Tampa Bay secure the fifth seed and sweep its season series with Atlanta, all while covering as a 7-point home favorite in Week 17?
Game Snapshot
119 Atlanta Falcons (+7) at 120 Tampa Bay Bucs (-7); o/u 50.5
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, January 3, 2021
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
TV: FOX
Atlanta Falcons DFS Spin
Matt Ryan completed 27-of-35 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons’ 17-14, Week 16 loss to the Chiefs. This was a Falcons loss if there ever was one, as CB A.J. Terrell dropped an end zone interception with 2:07 remaining and the Falcons winning 14-10. Patrick Mahomes then threw a 25-yard score the next play. On the ensuing drive, Younghoe Koo missed a game-tying, 39-yard field goal with 0:14 remaining. For his part, Ryan spent the afternoon under siege, absorbing “just” four sacks but coming close to countless more. He had trouble getting his connection with Calvin Ridley going, looking his only twice before halftime. He did correct that with seven second half looks. Playing out the string of yet another lost season, Ryan seems unlikely to have Julio Jones (hamstring) back for next week’s finale against the Bucs. He will be a mid-range QB2 vs. the Bucs’ tough defense.
Tampa Bay Bucs DFS Spin
Tom Brady completed 22-of-27 passes for 348 yards with four touchdowns in Week 16 against the Lions. Brady was rested to open the second half with the Bucs blowing out Detroit. Before he was pulled, he had a field day against the Lions’ injury-depleted secondary, hitting on deep shots to Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski while adding a pair of red-zone scores. Brady has already set the Bucs’ franchise record for touchdown passes, and he’s been on his best stretch of the season, with 668 yards and six TDs in his last four quarters. Tampa clinches a playoff spot with their win over Detroit. Brady and the Bucs will close out the regular season against Atlanta in Week 17.
Falcons vs. Bucs Betting Prediction
The over is a perfect 5-0 in the last five meetings between these two teams, which includes cashing three weeks ago when the Bucs met the Falcons in Atlanta. The over is also 4-1 in the Falcons’ last five games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game and is 11-5-2 in their last 18 games played in the month of January. On the other side, the over is 9-1 I the Bucs’ last 10 games versus NFC South rivals, is 7-2 in their last nine games as a home favorite and has cashed in 16 of their last 21 conference games.
NFL WEEK 17 BETTING PREDICTION: FALCONS/BUCS OVER 50.5