What is Las Vegas thinking ahead of Sunday’s game?

What is Las Vegas thinking about the Buccaneers and Saints game this weekend? I’m glad you asked. It’s hard to beat Vegas, really, it is. If it was easy, everyone would do it.

In no way am I a professional gambler, and in no way am I telling you to put your money with what I predict. This is really just for fun and something we here at Bucs Nation thought the readers would enjoy after sports gambling was legalized.

For those that don’t know sports gambling, I will quickly go over the three main bets that are often placed. Also, the lines could always change and the website you use, could be different from another one.

Betting with the spread: Currently, the Buccaneers are +9 ½. This means that if you were to take the Buccaneers with the spread, they could lose by 9 points and you’d win. On the opposite side, if you took the Saints at -9 ½ , they’d have to win by 10 for you to win the best. Spread bets always have the same odds, which are -110. This means that you need to risk $110 to win $100.

Money line bets: As of Friday evening, the Saints are -440, while the Buccaneers are +360. In money line bets, all the team you bet on has to do is win. In terms of what the -440 means for the Saints, you’d have to risk $440 dollars just to win $100. The Buccaneers at +360, means that a $100 dollar bet would win you $360 dollars.

Over/Under bets: Again, no matter what way you pick, the odds in this case are -110. Vegas sports books currently have the over under at 49 ½ total points scored . Take the over and the two teams must combined to score 50 points in order for you to win. Obviously, the under is the opposite.

So now we get to the part where I try and beat Vegas. I will keep a tracker all season of how I am doing. It probably won’t be good, but we’ll give it a go. There are many factors to take into consideration every week. Injuries, location of game, weather, etc…

The public, is on the Saints. According to Oddshark.com 64% of the public is taking the Saints at -9 ½ and 56% of the public is on the over of total points scored.

My picks: Buccaneers at +9.5 and the under 49 ½. Whenever a team with as much talent as Tampa has is given nearly 10 points, I think you’d be silly not to take that. Fitzpatrick will keep the game close and the Buccaneers will have a chance to win it at the end. The defense will also play much better than anticipated, which will result in a lower scoring game. We won’t see a shootout in the Superdome.