The NFC South gets the second half of the NFL regular season underway with a matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. Game time from Raymond James Stadium has been set for 8:30 p.m. (ET) and this key division tilt will be broadcast nationally on the NFL Network.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay Game Overview
The Falcons head into this game on the heels of a thrilling 33-32 come-from-behind victory against Green Bay as three-point home favorites. They are now 5-3 on the year both straight-up and against the spread. The total went well OVER the 51-point closing line in that game and it has now gone OVER in their last three games. Atlanta is a perfect 4-0 ATS on the road this season, but it has failed to cover in three games as a favorite.
Matt Ryan continues to lead an aerial assault that is averaging 313.8 yards a game on an offense that is ranked first in the NFL in both yards (425.2) and points (32.8) a game. The veteran quarterback’s favorite target continues to be Julio Jones with 43 receptions for 859 yards and four touchdowns. The main issue with the Falcons this season has been a defense that is ranked 25th in the league in yards allowed (379.2) and 29th in points allowed (28.9).
Tampa Bay is coming off a wild 30-24 loss to Oakland this past Sunday in a game that closed as a PICK to fall to 3-4 on the year both SU and ATS. The total went OVER 48 in the loss to the Raiders and it has gone OVER in four of its first seven games. The Buccaneers are 0-3 both SU and ATS at home this season following previous losses to Los Angeles and Denver.
Second-year quarterback Jameis Winston continues to struggle with consistency from one week to the next and in Sunday’s loss he only completed 50 percent of his 32 passing attempts for 180 yards. Tampa Bay is averaging 21.7 points a game on offense while allowing 27 points a game on the other side of the ball. This defense could have its hands full on Thursday night with a secondary that is allowing an average of 274.7 passing yards a game.
Atlanta at Tampa Bay Game Betting Trends
- The Falcons have won their last five road games SU and they are 4-1 ATS. The total has stayed UNDER in six of their last nine games played on the road, but it has gone OVER in seven of their last eight games overall.
- The Buccaneers are riding a five-game losing streak both SU and ATS in their last five games at home and they are 3-8 both SU and ATS in their last 11 games overall. The total has gone OVER in seven of their last 10 games.
- Head-to-head in this NFC South tilt, Tampa Bay has a 4-2 SU edge in the last six meetings and it is 3-1-1 ATS in its last five home games against Atlanta. The total has stayed UNDER in four of the last five games played in Tampa Bay.
