Sunday Night Football odds, spread, line: Buccaneers vs. Saints prediction, NFL picks from expert who’s 31-17

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue their push for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs when they host the rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football. The Buccaneers (10-3) entered the week in a three-way tie with Green Bay and Arizona for the best record in the NFC. Because of tiebreakers, Tampa Bay holds the No. 2 seed. Only the top seed will receive a first-round bye in the 2021 NFL Playoffs. Meanwhile, the Saints (6-7) entered the week No. 11 in the NFC standings and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. 

Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Tampa Bay is an 11-point favorite in the latest Buccaneers vs. Saints odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 45. Before you make any Saints vs. Buccaneers picks of your own, you need to see what SportsLine’s resident Buccaneers expert, R.J. White, has to say.

White, a CBS Sports fantasy and gambling editor, ended the 2020 season on an 80-59 run on all NFL picks, returning more than $1,400 during that span. It’s no surprise, as White has cashed huge twice in the world’s most prestigious football handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest.

In addition, White is an amazing 31-17-4 in his last 52 against-the-spread picks involving the Buccaneers. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, White has locked in on Buccaneers vs. Saints and released a confident against-the-spread pick. You can only see the pick at SportsLine. Now, here are several Week 15 NFL odds and betting lines for Saints vs. Buccaneers:

• Buccaneers vs. Saints spread: Tampa Bay -11
• Buccaneers vs. Saints over-under: 45 points 
• Buccaneers vs. Saints money line: Tampa Bay -600, New Orleans +425
• TB: Tom Brady leads the NFL in passing touchdowns (36) 
• NO: The Saints rank sixth in rushing yards allowed per game (95.0)

Why the Buccaneers can cover

Tampa Bay has been dominant at home this season. In six games at Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers are 6-0 and have averaged 37.5 points and 438.0 yards per game; both lead the league. The 37.5 points are the most at home by any NFL team since the 2014 Packers.

In addition, Tom Brady is having another MVP-caliber season. The seven-time Super Bowl winner leads the NFL in attempts (554), completions (378), passing yards (4,134) and passing touchdowns (36). He would be the second player in the past 30 years to lead the league outright in all four categories, joining Peyton Manning in his 2013 MVP season.

Why the Saints can cover

New Orleans enters Sunday’s showdown knowing it had success on the ground against Tampa Bay’s defense earlier this season. In the Saints’ 36-27 victory in Week 8, New Orleans had five players combine for 152 rushing yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 32 attempts. That was the second most rushing yards the Buccaneers have allowed this season.

In addition, New Orleans has had success against Brady over the last two seasons. Since Brady joined the Buccaneers prior to last year, the Saints are 3-1 against Tampa Bay. In addition, the Saints are 6-1 against the spread in their last seven meetings against the Buccaneers. 

How to make Buccaneers vs. Saints picks

White has analyzed this matchup from every angle. We can tell you he’s leaning over on the point total and he has also discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He’s sharing what it is, and which side of the Buccaneers vs. Saints spread to back only at SportsLine.

So who wins Saints vs. Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football? And what critical factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Saints vs. Buccaneers spread you should jump on, all from the top NFL expert who is 31-17 on picks involving the Buccaneers, and find out.