Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints Week 1 NFL Picks & Predictions 9/9/2018

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Get todays NFL Odds & Lines on this game

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Mercedes-Benz Superdome to play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, September 9, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has New Orleans as 7 point favorites. The total has been set at 52. The Buccaneers were 6-9-1 against the spread last season and their over/under record was 8-8-0. The Saints were 10-8-0 against the spread and their over/under mark was 11-7-0.

Valuable Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 8-8-0 against the over/under last season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 6-9-1 against the spread last year

Important New Orleans Saints Betting Trends

The New Orleans Saints were 11-7-0 against the over/under last season

The New Orleans Saints were 10-8-0 against the spread last year

Key Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injuries

08/31/18 S Justin Evans Foot is probable Sunday vs New Orleans
08/31/18 CB Vernon Hargreaves Groin is probable Sunday vs New Orleans
08/23/18 RB Charles Sims Knee IR
08/23/18 T Donovan Smith Knee is questionable Sunday vs New Orleans
08/03/18 LB Kendell Beckwith Ankle is questionable Sunday vs New Orleans
06/21/18 QB Jameis Winston Suspension 3-game Suspension (eligible to return 9/30 vs Chicago)

Key New Orleans Saints Injuries

05/21/18 RB Mark Ingram Suspension 4-game suspension (eligible to return 10/08 vs Washington)

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were 18th in the National Football League in points scored with 335 last year. They ran 1,034 plays for 5,816 yards, which ranked them 9th in the NFL in total offense. The Buccaneers averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 8th in the league. As a team they accumulated a total of 352 1st downs last season, ranking them 2nd overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Tampa Bay ran for 1,450 yards as a unit, which ranked 27th in the league. They ran 389 times, averaging 3.7 yards per rush as a unit. The Buccaneers were penalized on offense 104 times for 795 yards last year, which had them 19th in the NFL in penalties. Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for 1,103 yards last year. He completed 96 throws while attempting 163 passes for a completion percentage of 58.9%. His quarterback rating last season was 86. He averaged 11.5 yards per completion and 6.8 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Tampa Bay was 24th in the NFL in points surrendered on defense last year with 382. They gave up a total of 6,049 yards on D, which was 32nd in the league. The Buccaneers were 32nd in yards per play allowed with 6. Their pass defense allowed 7.3 net yards per pass attempt, ranking them 32nd in the National Football League. Opponent offenses completed 371 throws on 549 attempts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense last season, ranking them 32nd and 14th in the league. The Tampa Bay pass defense also surrendered a total of 4,169 yards in the air, which was 32nd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense gave up 440 attempts for 1,880 yards last season, putting them in 23rd place in the NFL against the run. The Buccaneers had 109 penalties for 937 yards on defense last year. That placed them 21st in the league. They allowed a score on 38.9% of possessions on defense, which was 28th in the NFL.

Special Teams Stats

Tampa Bay was 32nd in the NFL in punt returns with 20 last year. They totaled 192 punt return yards and averaged 9.6 yards per return, which was 6th in the league. Their longest punt return last season was 44 yards. They returned 20 kicks for 432 yards on special teams, placing them 31st in kick return yardage. The Buccaneers averaged 21.6 yards per kick return and had a long of 50 yards last season. They were 14th in the National Football League in all-purpose yards with 6,681. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers tried 34 field goals last season and made 25, which was 19th in the league. Their kickers had a FG percentage of 73.5%. Tampa Bay Buccaneers kickers made 90% of their extra points, going 28 for 31 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,857 yards on 66 punts, averaging 43.3 yards per punt. That ranked them 29th in the NFL in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The New Orleans Saints ran for 2,070 yards as a team last year, which ranked 5th in the NFL. They ran 444 times, averaging 4.7 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Saints were penalized on offense 105 times for 967 yards last season, which had them 17th in the league in penalties. They were 4th in the NFL in points scored with 448. They ran 1,000 plays last season for 6,259 yards, which ranked them 2nd in the league in total offense. The Saints averaged 6.3 yards per play, which was 1st in the National Football League. As a team they accumulated a total of 332 1st downs last year, placing them 8th overall as an offensive unit. Drew Brees averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt and 11.2 yards per completion last season. He completed 386 passes on 536 attempts for a completion percentage of 72%. His quarterback rating last year was 103.9. He threw for 4,334 yards.

Defensive Statistics

The Saints rush defense allowed 406 attempts for 1,787 yards last year, putting them in 16th place in the league against the run. New Orleans committed 108 penalties for 850 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 7th in the NFL. They gave up a score on 33.3% of possessions on defense, which was 16th in the league. They were 10th in the league in points allowed on defense with 326. They surrendered a total of 5,384 yards on D, which was 17th in the NFL. The Saints were ranked 23rd in yards per play allowed with 5.4. Their pass defense gave up 6 net yards per pass attempt, placing them 16th in the league as a unit. Opposing offenses completed 329 passes on 554 attempts against the New Orleans defense last season, placing them 13th and 17th in the National Football League. The New Orleans Saints pass defense also gave up a total of 3,597 yards through the air, which was 15th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The New Orleans Saints attempted 36 field goals last season and made 31, which was 11th in the National Football League. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 86.1%. New Orleans kickers made 94% of their extra points, going 47 for 50 last year. Their punters totaled 2,822 yards on 60 punts, averaging 47 yards per punt. That placed them 8th in the NFL in punting average. New Orleans was ranked 16th in the league in punt returns last season with 34. They accumulated 218 punt return yards and averaged 6.4 yards per return, which was 25th in the NFL. Their longest punt return last year was 24 yards. They returned 36 kicks for 825 yards on special teams, ranking 8th in kick return yardage. The Saints averaged 22.9 yards per kick return and had a long of 106 yards last year. They were 2nd in the league in all-purpose yards with 7,447.

Who will win tonight's Buccaneers/Saints NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Saints -7

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