The fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick will be making his third straight start under center doesn’t bode well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ sportsbook NFL odds against the Atlanta Falcons, and it’s not hard to understand why that is. The last, and just third time Fitz was, in his 12-year career with seven different teams, a full-fledged starter was in 2015 with the Jets, and he’s pretty much on borrowed time. “Until [Jameis Winston]’s cleared, I have no say in it,” Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said. “Jameis isn’t cleared.” But once he is, we all know what Kotter’s say is going to be.
- Date: Sunday, 26th November
- Time: 1:05 PM
- Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- NFL betting spread:
Buccaneers +10 (-118) 48 (-112) +351
Falcons -10 (-102) 48 (-108) -450
And the man in the back said everyone attack and it turned into a ballroom Fitz
Fitzpatrick may be no Jameis Winston, but je ain’t that bad either. As a matter of fact, the Bucs are 2-0 SU and ATS in two Fitz starts, after going 5-0 SU and 0-4-1 ATS in the previous five. “Ryan’s done exactly what I thought he’d do,” Kotter said. Then again, those two wins came against Fitz’s former team the Jets and the Dolphins, neither of whom is what you’d call top-notch competition. The Bucs rank second worst in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (275), and even a mediocre Falcons are much better at passing than either Jets or Fins. History does favor Tampa Bay, though; the Buccaneers are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games in November, 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four games against the Falcons, and 12-5 ATS in the last 17 trips to The Lost City of Atlanta. On the other hand, TB is 0-4 ATS in the last four divisional games matchups and 2-6-1 against the sportsbook NFL odds spread in the last nine overall.
Clayborn again
The Bucs offensive line will have their work cut out for them trying to protect Fitzpatrick from a rolling Falcons defensive Adrian Clayborn, who match the second-most sacks in single game with six against the Cowboys, and then return a loose ovoid for a 10-yard TD against the Seahawks on Monday. Atlanta won and covered in both games. Tampa Bay released Clayborn a few years ago, though at the time, no one could have faulted them for doing so; however, he just may be coming into his own now. “Coming to Atlanta has really allowed him to be able to express himself and become that guy that he wants to become,” Falcons assistant Raheem Morris said. “This year has really worked out well for him.” Atlanta’s pass rush is tied for fourth-most sacks in the league with 29; such defensive prowess has help the total go under in five of the Falcons’ last seven games. Atlanta is 2-5 ATS in the last seven games and 3-7 against the sportsbook NFL odds spread in its last 10 games as a double-digit fave.