NFL Week 5 Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 10/5/14, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: New Orleans -11
Current Betting Line: New Orleans -10
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 48.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The New Orleans Saints have dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in recent years

Tampa Bay broke a season-opening three-game losing streak last time out, as it picked up a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers as 7.5-point road underdogs Sunday, but it still lost the statistical battle for a fourth consecutive affair. The Buccaneers have lost their last five meetings against the Saints, which can’t be ignored when making your NFL predictions, as those setbacks have come by an average of 17.2 points. It’s important to point out that none of those defeats have come during the Lovie Smith era on the sidelines. Tampa Bay is 2-4 SUATS in October the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 6-0 in that situation.

The Buccaneers are hoping to receive another major performance from Mike Glennon, who threw for a career-high 302 yards with two touchdowns last week, which is important to consider when looking over the NFL betting lines. Tampa Bay will need to elevate is play in the secondary in hopes of putting together a win streak, as enters this NFC South affair allowing 272.5 passing yards per game.

New Orleans has really stumbled out of the gate with a 1-3 SUATS record, as it suffered a humiliating 38-17 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys as three-point road favorites on NBC’s Sunday Night Football in Week 4. Saints quarterback Drew Brees has put together a 113.3 passer rating during the franchise’s winning streak in this rivalry—throwing for an average of 329.9 yards and 15 touchdowns. New Orleans is 8-5 SU and 6-7 ATS versus division members the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 7-6 in that situation.

The Saints have won their last three home games in this series by a combined 83-17 score, which isn’t very surprising since they’ve gone 14-7 SU and 12-9 ATS in domes since 2012. New Orleans has captured its last nine games at the Superdome—winning those affairs by an astounding 17.6 points a contest.