The Carolina Panthers (-3.5) are heading south to battle their NFC South nemesis Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. FOX has the TV rights and the game is scheduled to get going at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Preview
In this Sunday NFC game, Carolina is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3.5 points. The Panthers are also receiving -160 moneyline odds while the Buccaneers are +140. There should be some good in-game betting opportunities during the showdown, and oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 56 points.
The line opened at 3 while the total has yet to move after it was set initially at 56.
The Panthers have gained 0.6 units this season and are 5-6 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 7-4. The Buccaneers are down 1.2 units for moneyline bettors so far. They’re 4-6-1 ATS and own an O/U record of 8-3.
The Panthers are 6-5 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against NFC South opponents. The Buccaneers are 4-7 SU overall and 1-2 SU against divisional foes.
The Panthers came up short to Seattle 30-27 in a Week 12 game where their secondary allowed the Seahawks to air it out for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Lockett had a productive day for the opposition in that one with 107 yards and a score on five catches. On the offense, Cam Newton completed 25 passes on 30 attempts for 256 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Christian McCaffrey (125 rushing yards on 17 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Newton (63 yards on eight carries) mounted the ground attack in the loss. McCaffrey (11 receptions, 112 yards, one TD) and D.J. Moore (eight catches, 91 yards) handled the receiving duties.
The Tampa Bay Bucs are coming off of a lopsided 27-9 win over San Francisco in Week 12. The team’s defense allowed the 49ers to rush for 148 yards on 24 attempts. Matt Breida was a bright spot in the loss, recording 106 rushing yards on 14 attempts for San Francisco. For Tampa Bay, Jameis Winston completed 29-of-38 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. Peyton Barber (47 yards on 18 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground game in the win while Adam Humphries (six receptions, 54 yards, one TD) and Mike Evans (six catches, 116 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Carolina has run the ball on 44.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Tampa Bay has an overall rush percentage of 38.1 percent. The Panthers have rushed for 138 yards/game (including 150 per game against South opponents) and have 13 scores via handoffs this year. The Bucs are totaling 98 rushing yards per game (105 in conference) and have eight total rush TDs.
Based on the results this season, it appears the Panthers should hold an edge in terms of RB effectiveness. Their backfield has produced 5.3 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 4.1 to opponents. The Buccaneers have rushed for 3.9 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 4.7 to opponents.
The Panthers offensive scheme has logged 247 yards/contest through the air overall (291 per game against conference opposition) and has 22 passing TDs so far. The Bucs have put up an astonishing 369 pass yards per outing (351.7 against NFC foes) and have 27 total pass scores.
Defensively, Carolina seems to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 96 yards and throw for 274 yards per game. The Tampa Bay defense has allowed 291.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 116.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.86 to opponents, while the Bucs have given up an ugly 8.57 ANY/A.
Offensively, Newton has put up 2,342 passing yards this year, and has connected on 70 percent of his 322 attempts with 19 passing scores and only six interceptions. Newton’s got a 6.85 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.53 over the last two outings.
Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel have combined to account for 699 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns over the last two outings.
Jameis Winston has managed to complete 125-of-186 passes for 1,493 yards, eight TDs and 10 INTs for Tampa Bay. His ANY/A stands at 5.67 for the season and 9.78 over his last two games.
Mike Evans, Peyton Barber and Adam Humphries have collectively accounted for 523 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns as a trio over the last two outings.
RELATED: Week 13 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
NFL Pick: Panthers vs. Buccaneers
SU Winner – Buccaneers, ATS Winner – Buccaneers, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Tampa Bay defense has sacked opposing QBs 29 times this year. Carolina has produced 25 sacks.
Tampa Bay has lost six fumbles in 2018 while the Carolina offense has lost four.
The Panthers offense has registered two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Buccaneers have accounted for 12 such plays.
The Carolina defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Tampa Bay has given up five such plays.
The Carolina offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Tampa Bay has created five such runs.
The Panthers defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Buccaneers have given up 12 such runs.
The Over/Under for Tampa Bay’s last game was set at 54.5. The under cashed in the team’s 27-9 victory over San Francisco.
Over its last three games, Tampa Bay is 1-1-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matches, Carolina is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Carolina’s last game was 47. The over cashed in the team’s 30-27 defeat to Seattle.
Carolina has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its past three games and 6.4 over its last two.
Tampa Bay has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.2 over its past two.
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