The Atlanta Falcons host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ kicking off at 8:30pm ET. The Falcons are currently 6.5-point favorites. The line opened at Falcons -4.5, and has climbed to as high as -7, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Tampa Bay is 0-5 against the spread in their last five games, and 2-6 ATS in their last eight road games. The Falcons are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games, but 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games against the Bucs. The total is set at 45.5, and the over has gone 6-0 in the Falcons’ last six games as a home favorite, according to the OddsShark NFL Database.
Atlanta?s injury report features a few notable names. Wide receiver Roddy White is listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. White suffered the injury in the Falcons’ Week 2 game against Cincinnati. He sat out all three practices this week, but is expected to play. Wide receiver Julio Jones (ankle) and offensive tackle Jake Matthews (ankle) are both listed as probable and are expected to play.
Tampa Bay?s injury report includes running back Doug Martin, who is still recovering from a knee injury. Martin suffered the injury two weeks ago, and sat out the Bucs’ Week 2 game against St. Louis. He was a limited participant in the team?s two full practices this week, and is listed as questionable. Martin is expected to play, but he ‘s likely to split carries with Bobby Rainey.
The New England Patriots opened as 14-point favorites over the Oakland Raiders, but they have seen the line climb to 15.5 points, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The climb has resulted in more money starting to come in for Oakland. New England does not have a strong history as a double-digit favorite.
The Patriots and Raiders wrapped up their first practices of the week on Wednesday. For New England, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Shane Vereen, and Dan Connolly were all limited, but are expected to play. For Oakland, wide receiver Rod Streater and running back Maurice Jones-Drew did not practice. Streater suffered a hip flexor in Week 2 and is likely to be listed as questionable, while MJD continues to rehab a hand injury, and is pessimistic he will play on Sunday.
Photo via Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports
