Dave Cokin
Bonus Play Sunday
SAINTS at BUCCANEERS 1:00 PM
Take: BUCCANEERS -4.5
I went into this season believing the New Orleans Saints would be a losing football team and it looks as though i got that right. But I sure didn’t see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sitting at 6-6 with four games to play and having a chance to make the playoffs. The Bucs have totally outperformed my expectations for them, and now they’re about to take the field for one of the most meaningful games they’ve played in some time.
The Bucs are still dogs to make the post-season. The loser of the NFC Central duel will probably notch one of the wild cards and Seattle controls their own destiny as far as the other spot is concerned. But next in line is Tampa Bay, and with this game and good win opportunities the next two weeks against the Rams and Bears, the Bucs are most definitely very much alive.
The Saints are in a tough spot here. They were all out last Sunday in a very tough loss to Carolina, and one has to wonder about what’s left in the tank for this road game. It’s tough enough for any team to rebound off a heartbreaker like that one. Add in the fact that the Saints are a bad road team and it gets worse. Toss in that 4-8 record, which means they’re now reduced to playing for pride and I would call this a negative all around situation for New Orleans.
As for the Bucs, they’re not dominating opponents, but they’re finding ways to win games. On the one hand, it’s therefore tough to lay any significant points with a team that’s not accustomed to blowing anyone away. But the flip side of that argument is that they’re gaining confidence with each win and I would have to think Tampa Bay has the mental edge coming into this game.
I like where the books set this line as it’s high enough to discourage auto-playing the favorite. The Bucs have been favored only three times all season, and this is the biggest number they’ve been asked to cover since the first couple weeks of the 2014 campaign.
I’m going with what I think is the flow here. I like the idea of fading New Orleans off the huge try last week against the unbeaten Panthers. I also see Tampa Bay as being more go with than go against right now, and I like where the number got set. I won’t predict a lopsided result, but I think there’s enough for me to lay the points this time with the Bucs.
Bonus Play Sunday
SAINTS at BUCCANEERS 1:00 PM
Take: BUCCANEERS -4.5
I went into this season believing the New Orleans Saints would be a losing football team and it looks as though i got that right. But I sure didn’t see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sitting at 6-6 with four games to play and having a chance to make the playoffs. The Bucs have totally outperformed my expectations for them, and now they’re about to take the field for one of the most meaningful games they’ve played in some time.
The Bucs are still dogs to make the post-season. The loser of the NFC Central duel will probably notch one of the wild cards and Seattle controls their own destiny as far as the other spot is concerned. But next in line is Tampa Bay, and with this game and good win opportunities the next two weeks against the Rams and Bears, the Bucs are most definitely very much alive.
The Saints are in a tough spot here. They were all out last Sunday in a very tough loss to Carolina, and one has to wonder about what’s left in the tank for this road game. It’s tough enough for any team to rebound off a heartbreaker like that one. Add in the fact that the Saints are a bad road team and it gets worse. Toss in that 4-8 record, which means they’re now reduced to playing for pride and I would call this a negative all around situation for New Orleans.
As for the Bucs, they’re not dominating opponents, but they’re finding ways to win games. On the one hand, it’s therefore tough to lay any significant points with a team that’s not accustomed to blowing anyone away. But the flip side of that argument is that they’re gaining confidence with each win and I would have to think Tampa Bay has the mental edge coming into this game.
I like where the books set this line as it’s high enough to discourage auto-playing the favorite. The Bucs have been favored only three times all season, and this is the biggest number they’ve been asked to cover since the first couple weeks of the 2014 campaign.
I’m going with what I think is the flow here. I like the idea of fading New Orleans off the huge try last week against the unbeaten Panthers. I also see Tampa Bay as being more go with than go against right now, and I like where the number got set. I won’t predict a lopsided result, but I think there’s enough for me to lay the points this time with the Bucs.
