The Buccaneers stopped a three-game skid with a 20-17 victory over the Cardinals in Week 13, but they’re not out of the mud yet. Tampa Bay is a half game ahead of the Panthers in the NFC South.
Meanwhile, the Saints are well out of contention, being one of the first teams eliminated from the postseason race. They’re at the bottom of the division at 2-10, seeking a top draft pick.
Tampa Bay is an 8.5-point favorite and -440 on the moneyline, while New Orleans is +340 on DraftKings Sportsbook. The game total is set at 41.5 points.
Here are my favorite player props for this Week 14 NFL game between the Buccaneers and Saints.
Buccaneers vs. Saints Best Prop Bets
Tyler Shough over 0.5 INT (-147)
The Buccaneers beat the Cardinals last week 20-17 thanks to some solid defense. Although not potent at limiting yards, Tampa Bay’s defense is one of the best at intercepting quarterbacks. Even Jacoby Brissett, the all-time leader in interception ratio, fell victim to the unit.
If the Buccaneers can intercept Brissett, they can certainly do the same against Tyler Shough. The rookie has had some bright moments, but he’s still a below average starter at this point. He’s thrown five touchdowns to four interceptions this year, with at least one takeaway in three of four starts.
This is particularly a difficult matchup for Shough, since the Buccaneers have the eighth most interceptions this season. They do, however, give up the fourth most passing yards.
Bucky Irving over 17.5 rush attempts (-102)
When fully healthy, there’s a lot to like about the Buccaneers’ offense. The wide receiver corps has a mix of great veteran and young talent, and the backfield features multiple starting-caliber rushers. Oh, and of course, Baker Mayfield headlines the action under center.
The offense is beginning to be somewhat healthy with Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin Jr. back in the mix. Irving was off to a hot start this season before suffering an injury, which kept him sidelined until Week 13. He ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while catching both targets for 20 yards in his return.
This is a light matchup for Irving, who will likely get a lot of touches in a potential blowout. The Buccaneers are favored by 8.5 points at home against a Saints’ squad that’s tanking. If the game goes as expected, Irving will get a lot of late-game touches to milk the clock.
Irving almost beat this mark in a close game against Arizona, meaning he’s not just there to run out the clock. He’s an important member of the offense and will get plenty of touches regardless of score. A blowout, however, will just enhance his chances.
Chris Olave over 64.5 receiving yards (-113)
Despite some struggles, Shough has shown trust in Chris Olave. The rookie quarterback regularly targets the 25-year-old, and if the Saints are trailing for much of this game, it will encourage Shough to keep playing aggressive.
While this is the same reason why I believe an interception is imminent, it’s also why I believe Olave can hit the over on his receiving yards. The Buccaneers, while a good interception team, aren’t good at slowing down passing offenses otherwise. They rank fourth in passing yards allowed this season.
Shough can take advantage of this, and will prioritize finding Olave to move the chains. Olave has hit this mark in two of his last three games.