Falcons vs. Bucs Week 17 Prediction
The Falcons will look to end their season on a high note when they visit the Bucs at 1:00 p.m. ET, but they have struggled over the years against Jameis Winston. Will Atlanta finish the season strong or is Tampa the play for bettors this afternoon?
Game Snapshot
109 Atlanta Falcons (-1) at 110 Tampa Bay Bucs (+1); O/U 47.5
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 29, 2019
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
According to our NFL Public Betting Chart page, the Falcons are drawing 53% of the betting tickets ahead of tonight’s game.
Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Spin
Julio Jones (knee, shoulder) will be limited in practice Thursday. It’s a step in the right direction after Jones was sidelined for Wednesday’s practice. He’s fully expected to suit up Sunday against the Buccaneers. It’s an absolute smash spot against the league’s single-worst defense in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing WRs. Jones’ status as the offense’s undisputed top dog in the passing game has resulted in him posting a 23-300-2 line over the past two weeks.
Tampa Bay Bucs Fantasy Spin
Jameis Winston (right thumb, knee) is questionable for the Buccaneers’ Week 17 matchup against the Falcons. Winston is fully expected to suit up after practicing in full on Thursday and Friday. Winston still managed to score 18 fantasy points last week during his four-interception effort. The problem is the league’s most pass-happy QB doesn’t have the world’s easiest matchup against a Falcons defense that has been playing much better since their Week 9 bye, and it’s tough to expect a true ‘boom’ performance from Winston with both Mike Evans (hamstring, IR) and Chris Godwin (hamstring, out) again sidelined.
Atlanta
The Falcons are just 2-5-1 against the spread in their last eight meetings with the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium.
Tampa Bay
The home team is 4-1 against the spread in the last five meetings between these two teams.
NFL Week 17 Prediction
The point spread has jumped the fence in this one, with the Falcons now listed as a 1-point favorite after opening as a 2.5-point dog. I think oddsmakers had it right the first time: Tampa should be favored. Atlanta’s “resurgence” in the season’s second half has a lot to do with improved defensive play. That said, the other factor is that the Falcons have run the ball much effectively than they did in the first half of the season. Nobody has been able to run on the Bucs this year and thus, I see the Falcons struggling offensively. Meanwhile, Winston is a human turnover machine but he has owned the Falcons from a statistical standpoint, throwing for 23 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions for a 112.2 QB rating. Give the players in Atlanta credit: They fought for coach Dan Quinn’s job and they saved it momentarily, as the team announced that both he and GM Thomas Dimitroff will return in 2020. That said, now that they’ve saved his job, I feel a letdown coming.
NFL WEEK 17 PREDICTION: TAMPA BAY BUCS +1