NFL Week 17: New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers betting picks, preview

There are just a couple of games left in the season and while neither of these teams is expected to compete for the Super Bowl, this is an important game. If Tampa wins, the NFC South appears to be theirs. If the game goes to New Orleans, the Saints set things up for a messy final week in the division. We are lucky overall right now. There are not a lot of meaningless games this week. 

New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends and Odds  

Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023 —  1 p.m. ET
Odds: Tampa Bay -3, Over/under 42.5, New Orleans +130 | Tampa Bay -155

Pretty standard line-making for this one with the home team favored by three points. When they met back in October, New Orleans was the favorite and lost 26-9 at home. The Bucs dominated in that game, but it was not enough for the markets to have a strong opinion of them right now. Thus is life in the mediocre NFC South where no team is all that good. 

Picks for New Orleans vs. Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay -3, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans 160+ Yards and 2+ TDs (+160)

The Bucs come into the week as the hotter team, winning their last four games and covering the last three. It has taken a while but they finally seem to have sorted out their offense — they have scored 29+ in the last three contests. I am not a big fan of quarterback Baker Mayfield, but with a strong 1-2 punch at wide receiver, he is having a really strong season (his best ever), and the Tampa Bay offense is the best unit on the field. The Tampa Bay defense, also did a great job against New Orleans the first time around, holding the Saints to under 200 yards. That is probably too stingy to expect from that group on a regular basis, however, we do not need them to dominate to the same degree to win and cover for us on Sunday. 

When the Bucs and Saints played the last time, Godwin had a big day with over 100 yards, but Evans was more quiet. That is rare and as the season has progressed, Mayfield has gotten into a groove with his top targets. Evans alone has eight TDs in the last six games, making this worth a shot. 

It is still early in the week, but the Bucs are getting most of the support in this matchup. That makes me think this one could move away from us and since I do not anticipate a close game, there is no reason to wait. If it moves and you do not like the number this is a great teaser game.