NFL 2010 Week 6 Preview: Buccaneers vs Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New Orleans Saints

Game Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT Sunday, October 17, 2010

Stadium: Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, FL

Surface: Grass

Weather: Partly Cloud, High 81F, Low 62F?

Game Odds: Saints -4.5 Total: 43.5

The Week 6 NFL 2010 schedule sees the underachieving New Orleans Saints travel to sunnfy Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

New Orleans is coming off a disappointing 30-20 loss to the Cardinals and sit with a a 3-2 record.

Tampa Bay edged Cincinnati 23-20 in a Week 5 nail-biter that ended with a field goal in the final minute to improve their record to a surprising 3-1 on the season.

2010 Saints Offense

New Orleans is better than their 3-2 records shows, and though they are under-performing and might be dealing with a Super Bowl hangover, they have all the tools to succeed this season.

However scoring at a rate of only 19.5 points per game on average; it is clear where they do need to improve.  The running game isn’t anywhere near what it can produce, as the Saints rank just above Denver in the basement of the league with just 75.6 rushing yards per game.

2010 Buccaneers Defense

Tampa Bay ranks in the bottom half of the rankings in two of the four major defensive categories, overall yards allowed (18th-340.8 YPG) and rushing yards allowed (30th-143. 3 RYPG).

On the positive side the Buccaneers are 9th in the league for passing yards against, averaging 197.5 per game, and 15th in points allowed, at 20 per game.

Saints @ Buccaneers Betting Odds & Game Prediction

The current wagering odds posted at sportsbook.com have the Saints as a -4.5 road favorite with the game total set at 43.5 points.

Bodog.com has posted the Saints as a -200 favorite while the Bucs are +170 home underdogs against the money line.

Game Prediction: The momentum sits with Tampa Bay, as they have already matched their win total from last season and are coming off an uplifting last-minute victory against the Bengals. New Orleans, meanwhile, are reeling from their loss last week to Arizona and rookie QB Max Hall.

The home field advantage goes against the Saints as well and they’ll underachieve again this week.

Final score: 33-24 Buccaneers