The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) travel to play the Carolina Panthers (3-8). The matchup has become a surprisingly key divisional game. Our Buccaneers vs Panthers prediction is for underdog Carolina to cover the 6-point spread. The teams will score more than 46.5 points.
Head-to-head, Carolina has won 25 of their 47 meetings.
Offshore Odds: Bucs Favored By 6 on the Road
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | -6 (-105) | -255 | O 46.5 (-115) |
| Panthers | +6 (-115) | +215 | U 46.5 (-105) |
Tampa Hopes to Build on Big Win Over Giants
Tampa broke its four-game losing streak by humiliating the New York Giants 30-7 in Week 12. The victory raised their record to 5-6, one game behind Atlanta in the NFC South. They have a favorable schedule starting with Carolina.
Baker Mayfield was efficient against New York completing 24 of 30 passes for 294 yards. The score could have been far worse had head coach Todd Bowles and Mayfield wanted to run it up. Against Carolina, Mayfield will get back one of his primary weapons with wide receiver Mike Evans returning from a hamstring injury.
Expect Tampa to aggressively try to run the ball with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. They are tenth in the NFL in average rushing yards per game. Carolina is vulnerable to the run game, ranked last in rushing yards allowed per game.
The Bucs’ defense has been more vulnerable than Bowles’ defenses usually are. They are in the middle of the pack in sacks, are near the bottom in passing yards allowed, and are in the middle for rushing yards allowed per game.
Carolina is Showing Marked Improvement
After Carolina’s Week 8 loss in Denver, they were 1-7. Forced to go back to young quarterback Bryce Young, there was a chance that the attempt to develop him would lead to another dreadful season with a maximum of two or three wins.
However, they beat New Orleans by a point, the Giants by a field goal, and put a scare into the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City before a desperate Patrick Mahomes scramble led to a 30-27 Chiefs win.
Young has been efficient and cut down on the turnovers. Running back Chuba Hubbard is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season and things are looking up for the Panthers and head coach Dave Canales.
As crazy and likely ludicrous as it sounds, a win over Tampa combined with New Orleans and Atlanta losing would put Carolina only two games out of first place with five games remaining. They will not roll over for Tampa like the Giants did.
Buccaneers vs Panthers Prediction: A Seesaw Battle to the End
If Tampa looked at the schedule earlier in the year and felt confident in an easy victory over Carolina, they have rethought that. The Panthers were thisclose to beating Kansas City. This game will be close with Carolina covering the 6-point spread as the underdog. The teams will also put up the points, scoring at least 47.
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