Falcons-Bucs Spread Solid Atlanta -3: Trends Go Against Tampa Bay

The Falcons-Bucs game features a spread just about everywhere of Atlanta -3, and with good reason.  Despite Tampa’s solid play this season and their impressive 7-4 record, the Buccaneers have lost their last four games against division rival Atlanta.  They are also 3-13 Against The Spread in their last 16 home games and 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games as a home underdog.  Tampa Bay has managed to cover against Atlanta in 6 of their last 7 meetings.

Early betting trends have the Falcons getting close to 95 percent of the spread action while more than 90 percent of those betting the money line were also favoring an Atlanta outright win.  Tampa Bay would pay out $12.50 for every $10 bet at SBG Global should they win outright.  The total action was just above 80 percent on the OVER 44.5. 

As things stand now, the Falcons are looking to finish with the NFC’s best record.  For the first time ever, Atlanta hit the top spot on Gambling911.com’s 2010 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings.  They managed a 20-17 victory over Green Bay with just 9 seconds left last weekend.  It marked their 5^th straight win, the longest streak since  a nine-game run during their 1998 Super Bowl season.

"It's great to get a winning season," coach Mike Smith said. "But the expectations and goals we talk about are a lot higher than that."

Tampa Bay had played Atlanta well earlier in the season before losing 21-27, so expectations are high.

"We're still very much in the hunt," Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris said. "We've got a very meaningful game against Atlanta."

Tampa Bay is 0-4 this season vs. teams with winning records, however. 

For sports bettors, the Bucs home game ATS record is a major concern even though they are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.

The Falcons, meanwhile, are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a favorite.  They are 6-2 ATS vs. a team with a winning record and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com