Week 13 of the NFL will conclude with a divisional rivalry clash in Florida on Monday, December 5, so make sure you read the best Saints vs. Buccaneers betting pick and odds.

Tampa Bay is hoping to return to .500 when they welcome New Orleans at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers are -3.5 favorites on Bovada Sportsbook, while the total is set at 40.5 points. These NFC South foes have met once this season, and the Bucs won 20-10 in New Orleans.

Saints failed to score against San Francisco

The New Orleans Saints (4-8-0, 4-8-0 ATS) displayed their worst offensive performance of the season in a 13-0 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers. It was New Orleans’ third loss in four games and they couldn’t get on a scoreboard in Santa Clara after totaling 260 yards and 14 first downs. Also, the Saints committed two turnovers and forced none on the other end.

Andy Dalton completed 18 of 29 passes for 204 yards. Interestingly, Dalton was the team leader in rushing with 21 yards on four carries, while in the air, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed combined for 115 yards on seven catches. Defensively, Kaden Elliss was a standout with a game-high 13 tackles (10 solos).

RB Mark Ingram II (knee), CB Bradley Roby (ankle), and WR Michael Thomas (foot) are out indefinitely. CB P.J. Williams (knee), CB Marshon Lattimore (abdomen), and LB Pete Werner (ankle) are questionable to feature on Monday against Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers lost to the Browns in OT

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6-0, 3-7-1 ATS) were agonizingly close to recording their third consecutive win, but they fell short of the Cleveland Browns in overtime on the road. The Buccaneers beat the Rams and Seahawks and had a 17-10 lead in Cleveland until 30 seconds to go when the hosts tied the game and forced overtime. Nick Chubb then scored a rushing TD for the Browns, who won 23-17.

Tom Brady completed 29 of 43 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Godwin caught one of two TD passes from Brady and posted a game-high 110 yards on 12 receptions (13 targets). Rookie tight end Ko Kieft scored the first touchdown of his young career, while Rachaad White led the Buccaneers in rushing yards with 64 on 14 attempts. On defense, Devin White was rock-solid with a game-high 13 tackles.

RB Giovani Bernard (ankle), CB Logan Ryan (foot), LB Shaquil Barrett (Achilles), C Ryan Jensen (knee), and G Aaron Stinnie (knee) are out indefinitely. RB Leonard Fournette (hip), WR Russell Gage (hamstring), T Tristan Wirfs (foot), and G Luke Goedeke (foot) are questionable to play on Monday against New Orleans.

Trends:

New Orleans:

  • 2-5 ATS in the last seven games overall
  • 0-5 ATS in the last five road games
  • 0-5 ATS in the last five Monday games

Tampa Bay:

  • 4-1 ATS in the last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record
  • 4-1 ATS in the last five games in December

New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick

Nobody could imagine that the Buccaneers will have the 5th worst offense in the NFL that is averaging just 18.2 points per game, but that’s the reality. Even the Saints have a better offense that is scoring 20.8 ppg, but they are also allowing 23.3 ppg, which is the reason I am going with the hosts here. Tampa Bay’s defense is 7th in the league as it allows 18.5 ppg and it kept the opponents to below 17 points in two of the last three games. In fact, they limited the Browns to 17 points in regulation in their previous game. Because of that D, I am backing the Bucs.

Pick: Take the Buccaneers at -3.5 (-110)

The Total

The good news for that sturdy Tampa’s defense is New Orleans’ offensive struggles of late. The Saints scored more than 13 points just once in the last four games, and they managed to score ten in the latest H2H, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the hosts keep the visitors up to 14 points in this one. Both defenses are excellent against the pass, which means that we can see plenty of running here. Under is 4-1 in the last five H2H meetings, while Under is 11-3 in the previous 14 H2H duels in Tampa Bay.

Pick: Go Under 41.5 points (-120)