Hoping to extend their undefeated record, the Carolina Panthers (3-0) travel to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-2). Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct 4 and will air on FOX.
This week’s clash marks the first meeting for these NFC South rivals this season. The Panthers have been victorious in the last four over the Buccaneers, going back to the 2013 season. Bradley McDougald led the Buccaneers defensive effort in the last meeting, recording 11 tackles. Luke Kuechly led the defensive effort for Carolina, recording four tackles and one interception.
Carolina is a three-point favorite in this game against the Buccaneers. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently at 39 points.
Sitting at 1-2 for both Straight Up (SU) and Against The Spread (ATS), the Buccaneers will look to improve heading into Week 4. Special teams is a weakness for Carolina that the Buccaneers may use to their advantage. On average, the Panthers have allowed 112.7 return yards per game.
Moving to the road team, the Panthers head into Week 4 with records of 2-1 ATS and 3-0 SU. Odds are in favor of Carolina continuing to rely on its run game against a defense that allows 138 rushing yards per game, ranking 29th in the league. Shifting to the other side of the ball, it might be tough for the Buccaneers to keep up with Carolina’s defense in a few areas. The Panthers have the fourth-ranked run defense in the league, giving up 75.7 yards per game on the ground. When Carolina’s offense hits the field, they tend to act fast. With an average of 67.3, the team ranks fifth in the league for number of plays per game.
Predictions: SU Winner – Car, ATS Winner – Car, O/U – Under
Notes
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Tampa Bay’s last 13 games.
Tampa Bay is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games at home.
Tampa Bay is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Tampa Bay is 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games at home.
Tampa Bay is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Carolina.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games when playing Carolina.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Tampa Bay’s last 11 games when playing at home against Carolina.
Tampa Bay is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Carolina.
Carolina is 3-0 SU when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season. Tampa Bay is 1-0 SU when leading after three quarters.
Dating back to last year, Carolina is 4-2 SU against NFC South opponents, while Tampa Bay is just 1-6 SU against division foes.
Carolina is rated higher in the ground game on both sides of the ball. Its sixth-ranked rushing attack will face the 29th-ranked run defense of Tampa Bay, while its fourth-ranked rush defense will look to contain the 20th-ranked run game of the Buccaneers.
