Tampa Bay at Atlanta

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a mess. Not only have they lost nine straight after winning 10 games a year ago, they have lost the last four by 32, 16, 27 and 19 points. Those numbers have bettors piling it on Atlanta at well over 70% despite the big number hung on this game. The Falcons will undoubtedly be flat here, having just lost a game to the Saints who they really thought they could beat. This is another brutally ugly play, as Tampa Bay has looked horrible for weeks now. Every handicapping situation points to Tampa Bay in this one except the situation on paper. The paper says Atlanta in blowout, but it doesn't work that way in this league. Somehow the Bucs will find a way, just like the multitude of teams before them in this very same spot that all the situations say Tampa is the right side here. Play on Tampa Bay in this one.