NFL

NFL Predictions: Will Falcons vs. Bucs Be High-Scoring for Bettors? 12/18/17

Falcons vs Eagles

Will Monday night’s NFC South matchup between the Falcons and Bucs turn into a high-scoring game for bettors?

The Odds: Falcons vs. Bucs, 8:30 p.m. ET, Monday

According to oddsmakers, Atlanta is now a 7-point road favorite to beat Tampa Bay tonight. The Bucs opened as 4-point home underdogs but the number climbed to 7 on Monday afternoon. As for the total, the over/under opened at 47.5 but has climbed to 49 points.

Atlanta enters play tonight with an 8-5 record overall and a 4-2 mark on the road. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is 4-9 on the year and 3-3 at home. From a betting standpoint, the Falcons are just 6-7 against the spread and 2-4 ATS on the road. The Bucs are 3-9 against the number and 2-4 against the spread at home this year.

Atlanta Falcons Injury Report

The Falcons will not have running back Tevin Coleman, who will miss tonight’s game after suffering a concussion in last Thursday night’s win over the Saints. Guard Andy Levitre will also miss another game with a triceps injury. Outside of those two players, Atlanta enters tonight’s game relatively healthy.

Tamp Bay Bucs Injury Report

The Bucs will be without three key defenders for tonight’s game. Linebacker Lavonte David is out with a hamstring injury. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is out with a biceps tear. Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves is also out with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, center Ali Marpet is out for the season after suffering a knee injury in the first game that these two teams played this season. Fellow offensive lineman Demar Dotson is also out for the year while offensive tackle Donovan Smith is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Our Prediction

I actually wouldn’t be totally shocked to see the Bucs hang with the Falcons and cover the seven points. That said, given how banged-up Tampa Bay is, coupled with the fact that the Bucs have nothing to play for, I don’t fully trust them either.

Thus, I believe there’s more value in the total. The over is a near-perfect 10-0-1 in the Falcons’ last 11 games versus a team with a losing record. The over is also 5-1 in Atlanta’s last six games played on Monday night. The over is 6-2-1 in their last nine divisional games and is 16-6-1 in their last 23 conference games.

We know Atlanta can score. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Devonta Freeman and Mohamed Sanu should get into the high 20s tonight. Can the Bucs score 20 themselves? I believe they can.

Monday Night Football Week 15 Prediction: Falcons/Bucs over 49

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