Falcons vs. Bucs Total Prediction
Will the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Bucs combine for enough points to push the score over the betting total on Monday night? Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
Game Info
Matchup: Falcons (8-5) at Bucs (4-9)
TV: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Falcons -6.5
ODDS: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the over/under currently sits at 48.5 points after hitting the board at 47.5. The Bucs, meanwhile, opened as a 4-point home underdog but the line was bet up nearly three points and now the Falcons are -6.5.
PUBLIC BETTING: As of Monday morning, 79% of the betting tickets are on the Falcons to cover the spread and 67% of the money is also on Atlanta minus the points.
INJURY REPORT: For the Falcons, running back Tevin Coleman is out with a concussion and guard Andy Levitre is going to miss another game with a triceps injury. On the other side, the Bucs will be without linebacker Lavonte David (shoulder), defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (biceps), and cornerback Vernon Hargreaves (hamstring). Yikes.
OUR PREDICTION: I love the over in this game. Those three players listed for Tampa Bay are three key defenders for a unit that was struggling to keep opponents out of the end zone even with those players. Atlanta has been inconsistent offensively this season but as we know, the Falcons have a ton of firepower on that said of the ball in Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Devonta Freeman. The Falcons are also averaging 22.6 points per game and considering the Bucs are allowing 24 points per contest, I think there’s a good chance Atlanta hangs 28-31 tonight in Tampa.
The over is 10-0-1 in the Falcons’ last 11 games versus a team with a losing record, is 5-1 in their last six Monday games, and is 6-2-1 in their last nine divisional games. On the other side, the over is 11-5 in the Bucs’ last 16 games after allowing more that 250 yards passing in their previous game and is 4-1 in their last five games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
NFL WEEK 15 OVER/UNDER PREDICTION: FALCONS/BUCS OVER 48.5