The Carolina Panthers will try to sweep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gain the inside track on the NFC South crown Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Carolina (6-9) has won four of its past six games and pulled within a game of the Buccaneers for the division lead. The Panthers defeated the Bucs 21-3 in Charlotte and would earn the tiebreaker with a win Sunday.
The Buccaneers (7-8) have lost three of five but can clinch the division with a win. Tampa Bay could still win the South with a loss but would need help in Week 18.
Here’s a look at the latest Carolina vs Tampa Bay odds for this crucial Week 17 game.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Odds
Tampa Bay opened as a three-point favorite on Monday afternoon at Caesars Sportsbook by virtue of the game being played at home.
Carolina carried +135 moneyline odds, and Tampa Bay had -160 moneyline odds, which would profit $0.63 per dollar wagered.
Take a look at the best Panthers odds and Buccaneers odds for the 2022 NFL season.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Implied Totals
Buccaneers 21.25, Panthers 18.25
The Buccaneers are averaging just 18 points per game, and the Panthers are scoring 21 per game. But Tampa Bay is still favored.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Pick of the Day
Read more on this Panthers vs Buccaneers bet below.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Prediction
Buccaneers 24, Panthers 23
Tampa Bay is clearly flawed despite a loaded roster of superstars on both sides of the ball. The Bucs offense is a mess, scoring just 83 points over their past five games (16.6) per game while going 2-3.
Carolina is back from the dead after a 1-5 start that resulted in Matt Rhule losing his job. The Panthers are 5-4 in their past nine and are averaging 23 points per game over that span.
The Panthers are on this run after firing Rhule, trading all-world tailback Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco and waiving opening-day starter Baker Mayfield midseason, and have been carried by a pair of castoffs hoping to revive their once-dormant careers.
Sam Darnold is 3-1 and has not turned the ball over since taking over as Carolina’s starter Nov. 27, and coach Steve Wilks has more wins in 10 games than he had in his first tenure as an NFL coach.
Still, are Darnold, Wilks, Chuba Hubbard and the rest of the upstart Panthers ready to walk into Tampa and win the division? For all of their woes, the Buccaneers haven’t lost at home against a division foe this season, though they failed to cover the spread in both those games.
I think Darnold and Co. will give Tom Brady and Tampa Bay all they can handle. But the Bucs are still a team with Super Bowl pride and mettle, and it’ll take an extraordinary effort for Carolina to beat them.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Bet Tips
Here are a few Panthers vs Buccaneers betting trends to consider before making your bets:
- Tampa Bay is 1-11-1 against the spread in its past 13 games.
- The Panthers are 7-3 ATS since Wilks took over as coach.
- The Buccaneers are 6-2 at home against divisional opponents with Brady as QB.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Best Bets
Panthers +3 (-115) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Carolina is averaging about 27 points per game over its past four and is looking dangerous, especially after knocking off the upstart Lions on Sunday.
I’d love to take the Panthers to leave Central Florida controlling their own postseason destiny, but it just seems like the Buccaneers are going to do enough to win the South. Taking Carolina to hang tough and cover three is a solid hedge if you agree, especially if the line moves to 3.5 at some point during the week.
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Over 39.5 Points (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Buccaneers offense has struggled, but Tampa Bay is still averaging about 20 points per game at home in the balmy Tampa weather. Carolina is averaging 22 points per game in its past four road games.
Barring some monsoon-like rain, the conditions should be perfect for points Sunday, plus Carolina is allowing about 24 points per game over its past three. That should give us an Over in an extremely favorable line.
Soon you will be able to bet on the Buccaneers with these Florida sportsbooks!
Panthers vs Buccaneers Props
Check out the best Panthers vs Buccaneers player prop bets this week with our props comparison tool. Click on “Show More Games" below to find the Carolina vs Tampa Bay game and see all of its prop bets.
