Panthers vs Buccaneers Predictions, Odds, NFL Picks

The Carolina Panthers (8-8) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) meet today in the first game of the NFL doubleheader. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. ET from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game will broadcast live on ABC and ESPN.

Panthers vs Buccaneers odds list the Buccaneers as -160 favorites on the moneyline and Panthers as +135 underdogs. The game total is 43 points. The Buccaneers on 3-point spread favorites over the Panthers (Bucs -3).

Let's get into my Panthers vs Buccaneers prediction — plus the latest NFL odds, betting trends, viewing information, inactives, weather forecast and more.

Panthers vs Buccaneers Predictions, NFL Picks

• Panthers vs Bucs pick: Buccaneers -2.5 (-115)

My Panthers vs Buccaneers best bet is on Tampa Bay to cover the spread. Find the best odds by checking our live NFL odds page.

Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds

Saturday, Jan 3

4:30 p.m. ET

ABC/ESPN

Panthers Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+3 -115	43 -110o / -110u	+135

Buccaneers Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-3 -105	43 -110o / -110u	-160

Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute NFL odds here.

Panthers vs Buccaneers Preview, Prediction

The Buccaneers have played terribly over the past two months. However, if you look at their offense, Tampa Bay's only big loss has been LT Tristan Wirfs, who logged limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday and carries no injury designation.

The Bucs have dealt with so many more injuries over the course of the year than they are right now, and they're still better than the Panthers in DVOA.

This is a revenge game. It's the second division matchup between these teams, at home for Tampa Bay, and the Bucs are a veteran team that has gone to the postseason pretty much every year since the Tom Brady years.

The Buccaneers are always solid. I think their recent slump is due to more human elements. They weren’t super motivated these last couple of months because they seemingly win the division every year with a 9-8 record or something close to that — it seems like they got lulled to sleep.

Tampa Bay has been underperforming, and Baker Mayfield was hurt — but now they have all of their wide receivers with Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back in the lineup.

Emeka Egbuka, however, has been dropping passes — Mayfield does just miss him sometimes. Some of Egbuka's recent struggles are pretty inexplicable, but my point is the Bucs are underrated. They’ve been playing worse than expected, while the Panthers have been running hot.

For all those wins, Carolina hasn't been as good as a road underdog. In away games, the Panthers are just 4-4. Panthers QB Bryce Young has also struggled on the road, and the Panthers don't get pressure on defense.

The Bucs have been underperforming for so long now that we're getting them laying less than a field goal at home against a lesser team in a must-win game.

Mayfield is 3-0 straight up (SU) and 2-1 against the spread (ATS) at home vs. the Panthers in his career, tied for his best mark SU at home vs. any team (also 3-0 SU vs. the Bengals).

Panthers vs Buccaneers Predictions, Spread Betting Analysis

I know picking the Bucs is ugly, but I make the spread for this game 3.5, and I simply can’t go with Carolina here.

Any way you slice it, I can't make this line less than three points. It's probably going to come down to the wire; NFC South division games tend to do that.

However, at Tampa Bay -2.5, you almost have to buy-low on the Bucs here, as sad as it is.

Pick: Buccaneers -2.5 (-115)

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