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Here is my NFL GOY and the reasoning behind it.
NFL (Game of the Year)
10* Tampa Bay +7.5 (1:05 PM)
Tampa needs a win, coupled with losses by the NYG & G.B. to get in to the playoffs. The Giants and Packers both play later at 4 PM so the Bucs should be focused on what they have to do for a full 60 minutes. The Saints on the other hand know that if Atlanta wins, they are locked in to the #5 seed meaning, they play a road game next week. If they see the Falcons pulling away from the Panthers at home in a game also played at 1 pm, you just may see Sean Payton pull some players and get them as much rest as possible before next week. Most expect the Falcons to beat Carolina somewhat easily so don't be shocked if that scenario plays out. Aside from that, you have a Saints offense ranked #2 in passing but they face a Tampa defense whose strength is vs the pass (ranked #6). The Bucs defense is not good against the run (28th) but the Saints offense isn't good running the ball either (27th). On the other side of the ball you have a Saints defense that is in the bottom half of the league (18th) stopping the run vs a Tampa team that is 7th best rushing. In the 1st meeting this season the Saints rolled 31-6. I think Tampa is a different team right now though. Following that loss to the Saints, the Bucs installed LeGarrette Blount in to the lineup and he hasn't stopped running over people since. He didn't play at all in the 1st game. Also, WR Colston is out for New Orleans after having minor surgery. Those are 2 big differences in this meeting. Chris Ivory ran for 158 in the 1st meeting for the Saints but he and RB Thomas are banged up and i'm not sure they want Reggie Bush handling too much of the workload either. Bottom line is the Saints are way more concerned with getting people healthy for next week over the urgency to win this one. The numbers favor us too. The road team is (4-0) Ats in the last 4 meetings. The Bucs are (10-1) Ats in their last 11 as a road dog. They are also (13-3) Ats in their last 16 on the road overall and (6-1) Ats in their last 7 visits to New Orleans. The Saints are (4-11) Ats following a Win and they are (0-5) Ats the last 5 years in week 17. The points are dropping and they may continue to right up until game time so don't wait on it. I simply think you have two teams with a different agenda here and if that is true, i love the points!
Tampa Bay 27 New Orleans 23
NFL (Game of the Year)
10* Tampa Bay +7.5 (1:05 PM)
Tampa needs a win, coupled with losses by the NYG & G.B. to get in to the playoffs. The Giants and Packers both play later at 4 PM so the Bucs should be focused on what they have to do for a full 60 minutes. The Saints on the other hand know that if Atlanta wins, they are locked in to the #5 seed meaning, they play a road game next week. If they see the Falcons pulling away from the Panthers at home in a game also played at 1 pm, you just may see Sean Payton pull some players and get them as much rest as possible before next week. Most expect the Falcons to beat Carolina somewhat easily so don't be shocked if that scenario plays out. Aside from that, you have a Saints offense ranked #2 in passing but they face a Tampa defense whose strength is vs the pass (ranked #6). The Bucs defense is not good against the run (28th) but the Saints offense isn't good running the ball either (27th). On the other side of the ball you have a Saints defense that is in the bottom half of the league (18th) stopping the run vs a Tampa team that is 7th best rushing. In the 1st meeting this season the Saints rolled 31-6. I think Tampa is a different team right now though. Following that loss to the Saints, the Bucs installed LeGarrette Blount in to the lineup and he hasn't stopped running over people since. He didn't play at all in the 1st game. Also, WR Colston is out for New Orleans after having minor surgery. Those are 2 big differences in this meeting. Chris Ivory ran for 158 in the 1st meeting for the Saints but he and RB Thomas are banged up and i'm not sure they want Reggie Bush handling too much of the workload either. Bottom line is the Saints are way more concerned with getting people healthy for next week over the urgency to win this one. The numbers favor us too. The road team is (4-0) Ats in the last 4 meetings. The Bucs are (10-1) Ats in their last 11 as a road dog. They are also (13-3) Ats in their last 16 on the road overall and (6-1) Ats in their last 7 visits to New Orleans. The Saints are (4-11) Ats following a Win and they are (0-5) Ats the last 5 years in week 17. The points are dropping and they may continue to right up until game time so don't wait on it. I simply think you have two teams with a different agenda here and if that is true, i love the points!
Tampa Bay 27 New Orleans 23
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