Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Point Spread Pick & Preview

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Point Spread Pick & Preview: I love the Bucs, love their coach, love their quarterback, their receiver is going to be great, LeGarrette Blount runs as hard and physical as anyone, and Cadillac Williams may not be a huge part of their offense these days, but there’s nobody I root for more than that guy. Defensively, they tackle you and don’t beat themselves with dumb mistakes – and since the Falcons don’t take tons of chances, I expect this game to be close. But close doesn’t mean I need to take the three points – in fact, I’m going with the team I think is better, Atlanta, giving 3-points, and I’m expecting to just barely sneak out of Tampa Bay with a cover.

The Bucs have been solid everywhere (aside from home games against New Orleans and Pittsburgh). Despite the Falcons being closer to NO and Pitt than any other team the Bucs have played this season, they don’t have that same kind of physical, mistake-causing, aggressive defense those two teams have. Tampa can beat Atlanta, definitely – they played them tight last time around, in Atlanta, losing by 6 points. Despite losing the rushing and passing battles, it was closer than most expected, and Tampa has only gotten better since then.

The Bucs are playing good football right now, winning 2 of their last 3 since the Atlanta game, being more aggressive defensively without hurting themselves by giving up big plays. I like them to keep the game close, but 24-17 is close, 28-24 is close, and those are covers. I like my chances to slip by in a close game.

Atlanta Falcons (-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers