Nothing captures football Sunday quite like the Falcons taking on the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.
That sets the stage perfectly for Week 8, with both squads riding momentum from outright upset victories while getting their key signal-callers healthy at the right time.
Atlanta spoiled San Francisco’s bid at a perfect season at home, while Todd Bowles and Tampa Bay proved to be more than worth 3 points on the spread in a 30-point upset win in Carolina.
They’ll each be looking for repeat performances this week, with the Buccaneers favored by 2 points in this NFC South showdown.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers prediction, props
Make no mistake, Michael Penix Jr. and Baker Mayfield have each played significant roles this season after missing time with injuries.
Starting with the Bucs, who looked like a completely different team in their 43-13 win in Mayfield’s return. Despite throwing for only 64 yards, Mayfield orchestrated the offense as Tampa Bay’s rushing trio—Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, and Sean Tucker—combined for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
That’s great momentum to build on, but the Falcons’ defense has limited opposing ball carriers to just 3.8 yards per carry and 88.4 rushing yards per game through Week 8.
Derrick Henry is the only running back to top 100 yards against Kevin Stefanski and company. With Emeka Egbuka now out, Mayfield may need to shift more of his passing workload to Chris Godwin and Cade Otton.
All eyes on the Falcons offense naturally drift toward Bijan Robinson, who leads the NFL in rushing yards (704) while providing even more upside as a receiver.
Bowles’ defensive unit has also proven stout against the run, allowing just 77.3 rushing yards per contest and two touchdowns on the ground across seven matchups.
This opens the door for the Falcons to attack through the air, specifically by targeting Kyle Pitts Sr., who’s enjoying a midseason renaissance.
Since Week 3, the Florida product has recorded 19 catches on 24 targets for 176 yards and four touchdowns, including three straight games of five receptions with Penix Jr. finding him at ease.
Betting on the NFL?
The Buccaneers blitz at the league’s sixth-highest rate and have struggled with tight end coverage because of their single-high safety schemes.
Should Tampa dial up extra pressure, soft spots will emerge underneath — the exact scheme Pitts exploited for three scores in their Week 15 clash a season ago.
Expect Pitts to deliver once again, making his receptions floor a safer wager while offering plenty of upside as a touchdown target.
The Play: Kyle Pitts Over 3.5 receptions (-118, BetMGM) | Kyle Pitts anytime TD scorer (+300, FanDuel)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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