In this article, we will formulate a Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons prediction for this NFL game on Sunday, October 27th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this Week 8 matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 4-3 this year after they lost to Baltimore by a score of 41-31 in their last game. Tampa Bay led 10-0 in the second quarter, but they fell apart and allowed the next 34 points for the loss. The Buccaneers were outgained by a total of 508-481, lost the turnover battle 2-1, and went 11-17 on third down in the game. Baker Mayfield threw for 370 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Cade Otton caught eight passes for 100 yards. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were injured in this game and will be out for at least multiple weeks.
Tampa Bay also has losses against Denver and Atlanta, but they do have wins against Washington, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. The TB offense has scored 29.9 points per game with 248.3 passing yards and 135.1 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 26 points per game this season. The Buccaneers have gone 50.6% on third down and 2-4 on fourth down so far this season. Baker Mayfield has completed 70.5% of his passes for 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while Bucky Irving has rushed for 351 yards and three scores.
Atlanta Falcons Betting Preview
The Atlanta Falcons are 4-3 this season after they lost to Seattle by a score of 34-14 in their last game. Atlanta trailed 17-7 at halftime, but they cut the deficit to 17-14 early in the third, before allowing Seattle to pull away. The Falcons outgained Seattle by a total of 369-339, lost the turnover battle 3-0, and went 8-15 on third down in the game. Kirk Cousins threw for 232 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while Bijan Robinson rushed for 103 yards and one score.
Atlanta also has losses against Pittsburgh and Kansas City, but they do have wins against Philadelphia, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, and Carolina. The Atlanta offense has scored 23.3 points per game with 251.1 passing yards and 119.6 rushing yards per game, while the defense has allowed 24.1 points per game this season. The Falcons have gone 38% on third down and 7-11 on fourth down so far this season. Kirk Cousins has completed 66.9% of his passes for 1,830 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while Bijan Robinson has rushed for 483 yards and four scores.
Why the Buccaneers will cover
- The Buccaneers have won five of their last six Sunday games as underdogs.
- The Falcons have lost four of their last five games as road favorites against NFC opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the spread in each of the Falcons’ last nine Week 8 games.
- The Falcons have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight games as favorites following a loss.
- The Buccaneers have won the first quarter in each of their last four home games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Buccaneers have won the first half in each of their last five games as slight underdogs (<+3.5 points).
- The Buccaneers have scored the first touchdown in each of their last four games as home underdogs.
Why the Falcons will cover
- The Buccaneers have lost 14 of their last 15 Week 8 home games.
- The Falcons have won six of their last seven games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Buccaneers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six home games in October.
- The Falcons have covered the spread in each of their last five October road games against NFC opponents.
- The Falcons have won the first half in each of their last six games as favorites following a loss.
- The Falcons have scored the first touchdown in three of their last four road games played on the East Coast.
- The Buccaneers have won the first quarter in each of their last four games as slight underdogs (<+3.5 points).
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Falcons’ last six games as favorites against the Buccaneers have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the Buccaneers’ last six games as underdogs against the Falcons have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the last five games between NFC South teams has gone OVER the total points line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Player Prop Facts
- Mike Evans has scored the first touchdown in each of the Buccaneers’ last three regular season games as home underdogs.
- Rachaad White has recorded 27+ rushing yards in each of his last 16 appearances following a loss.
- Rachaad White has recorded 18+ receiving yards in each of the Buccaneers’ last 10 Sunday games played on the East Coast.
- Rachaad White has recorded 43+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his last 15 appearances following a loss.
- Mike Evans has scored at least one touchdown in five of the Buccaneers’ last six games as underdogs following a home loss.
- Baker Mayfield has recorded 283+ passing yards in each of the Buccaneers’ last four games as underdogs in Florida.
- Baker Mayfield has recorded 24+ completions in each of the Buccaneers’ last four home games.
- Baker Mayfield has thrown two or more touchdowns in each of the Buccaneers’ last seven games played as underdogs on the East Coast.
- Heading into Week 8, Mike Evans ranks T1st in the NFL in receiving touchdowns (6) this season.
Atlanta Falcons Player Prop Facts
- Drake London has scored a touchdown in five of the Falcons’ last six games.
- Tyler Allgeier has recorded 45+ rushing yards in five of the Falcons’ last six games following a home loss.
- Kyle Pitts has recorded 43+ receiving yards in each of the Falcons’ last six October games against NFC opponents.
- Tyler Allgeier has recorded 51+ rushing and receiving yards in five of the Falcons’ last six games following a home loss.
- Kirk Cousins has recorded 273+ passing yards in six of his last eight October appearances against NFC South opponents.
- Kirk Cousins has recorded 33+ completions in three of his four previous appearances against the Buccaneers.
- Kirk Cousins has thrown three or more touchdowns in each of his two previous October appearances against the Buccaneers.
- Heading into Week 8, Kirk Cousins has recorded the most completions in a single game this season (42 vs Buccaneers, Week 5).
Matchup/League Facts
- Heading into Week 8, the Buccaneers rank 1st in the NFL in 3rd down percentage (50.6%) this season.
- Heading into Week 8, the Buccaneers rank 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per game (386.0) this season.
- Heading into Week 8, the Falcons rank 32nd in the NFL in sacks (6.0) this season.
- Heading into Week 8, the Falcons rank 30th in the NFL in total punt yards (813) this season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons Prediction
Both of these teams come into this matchup after losing last week and this is a huge game in the NFC South, but Tampa Bay is dealing with some injury issues. The Bucs will be without Godwin and Evans, so their wide receiver depth is really going to be tested. Atlanta is 2-0 on the road this season and they have won three of their last four games overall. I don’t like what I have seen from either defense and even with Evans and Godwin missing, I think we will see plenty of points from both sides. Take the over here.