Atlanta (8-5) at Tampa Bay (4-9)
When: Monday, December 18th 2017
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Time: 8:30 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Atlanta -4/47
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t have much to play for, but will have a chance to disrupt the rest of the NFC South in the closing weeks and it starts with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football to conclude Week 15. The Falcons have won four of their last five games and even though they trail the Saints and Panthers in the division, they control their own destiny by playing each of those teams in the final two weeks. Currently, Atlanta owns the tiebreaker over Seattle for the No. 6 spot in the NFC by virtue of their win against the Seahawks earlier this season. Atlanta beat visiting Tampa Bay 34-20 on November 26th, but the Buccaneers were without quarterback Jameis Winston, who will be making his third start since returning from injury. Winston rallied Tampa Bay from a 14-point deficit last week before Tampa Bay lost to Detroit 24-21 in the final minute. It was Tampa’s third straight loss and eighth in 10 games. 67% of the betting public is on Atlanta right now and you can find the consensus for all sports on our Live Odds page.
Wide receiver Julio Jones is having another solid season, surpassing 1,000 yards for the fourth consecutive year, and he went off against the Buccaneers earlier this season for 12 catches, 253 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Jones also had eight catches for 101 yards and a score at Tampa Bay last November as quarterback Matt Ryan threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns passes in that contest. Ryan has 17 TDs and five interceptions in his last eight Monday night appearances. Devonta Freeman has rushed for 165 yards in two games since returning from a concussion and will get the bulk of the carries as fellow running back Tevin Coleman is in the concussion protocol. Adrian Clayborn (hamstring), who leads the team in sacks, did not practice Thursday, but should be ready to go on Monday. The Falcons rank seventh in total defense (319.8) and ninth in points allowed (20.1). Atlanta will finish the season at New Orleans then home to Carolina.
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Winston was terrific in the two matchups with Atlanta last season, throwing for 542 yards with seven scores against one interception. Star wide receiver Mike Evans has been a non-factor the past two games with a combined four catches, but he had eight receptions in last month’s loss to the Falcons and scorched them for 16 catches, 249 yards, and three touchdowns last season. Winston might look towards DeSean Jackson, who has 690 yards and three TDs in his past six Monday night games. With Doug Martin struggling, Peyton Barber has taken more of a role in the running game and has 160 yards rushing over the past two games. Tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David missed practice this week, which is not good news for a team that allows a league-worst 276.1 yards passing a game. The Bucs will be in Carolina next week then home to the Saints on New Year’s Eve.
PUBLIC % REPORT FOR ALL SPORTS
This is a dangerous spot for the Falcons, who are playing with a lot of pressure against a Tampa team with nothing to lose. The Bucs are going to be a tough out for the NFC South the next three weeks and I think they’ll be competitive here on Monday night.
Pick: Bucs +6.5
- Falcons are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Monday games.
- Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in December.
- Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Falcons are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
- Falcons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in Week 15.
- Falcons are 6-2 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
- Falcons are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. NFC South.
- Falcons are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Falcons are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Buccaneers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Buccaneers are 23-49-1 ATS in their last 73 home games.
- Buccaneers are 13-28-1 ATS in their last 42 games in December.
- Buccaneers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 15.
- Buccaneers are 7-18-1 ATS in their last 26 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Buccaneers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games on grass.
- Buccaneers are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
- Buccaneers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss.
- Buccaneers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- Buccaneers are 1-9-1 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Buccaneers are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 vs. NFC.
- Buccaneers are 0-3-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Buccaneers are 0-7-1 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Buccaneers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC South.
- Over is 10-0-1 in Falcons last 11 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 5-1 in Falcons last 6 Monday games.
- Over is 8-2-1 in Falcons last 11 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Falcons last 21 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 9-3-1 in Falcons last 13 games in December.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Falcons last 9 vs. NFC South.
- Over is 16-6-1 in Falcons last 23 vs. NFC.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Falcons last 26 games on grass.
- Under is 7-3 in Falcons last 10 games overall.
- Under is 7-3 in Falcons last 10 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 55-25-4 in Falcons last 84 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 11-5 in Falcons last 16 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Buccaneers last 4 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Buccaneers last 10 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Buccaneers last 9 games in Week 15.
- Under is 5-2 in Buccaneers last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 11-5 in Buccaneers last 16 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 15-7-1 in Buccaneers last 23 games in December.
- Favorite is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 meetings.
