A pair of NFC South teams are set to finish the regular season on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the road at the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay is 8-8, and with a win in this game, will win the division, and be in the postseason. The Buccaneers are coming off a tough loss to the Saints last week. For Carolina, they are 2-14 on the season.
The Panthers are coming off back to back losses. Last week, Carolina was shutout in Jacksonville. The first time these two teams met, the Buccaneers won at home 21-18. Tampa Bay is -5.5 over Carolina in this game on Sunday.
Mayfield Guiding Tampa Bay
Baker Mayfield has been the spark plug for this Tampa Bay team. The Buccaneers started the season 3-1, before falling to 3-5, and 4-7. But, a recent hot streak has them a win away from the postseason. Mayfield has thrown for 3,907 yards and 28 touchdowns on the season. Mike Evans is his top target with 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Buccaneers are one of the worst rushing teams in the National Football League. Despite that, Rachaad White is closing in on 1,000 on the season. White needs 85 yards on the ground to get there in this game. White has 6 touchdowns and has been a weapon in the passing game as well.
Tampa Bay is scoring 21.2 points per game and allowing 20.3 per game. The Buccaneers scored 21 points or more during their latest four game winning streak. In each of their last three losses, they scored 20 or less.
Lost Season for Carolina
Things could not be much worse for the Carolina Panthers this season. The Panthers finished with the worst record in the league, but do not get the #1 pick in the 2024 draft. Carolina fired their coach they hired to take this franchise back to the postseason, and Bryce Young has been ineffective at best.
The former Alabama signal caller has 11 touchdowns thrown to 10 interceptions. Adam Thielen continued his great career, and went over 1,000 receiving yards with 4 touchdowns. But, that’s about it for the positives for this team.
The Panthers started the season with six straight losses. After losing by 21 to the Dolphins, Carolina bounced back with a 15-13 win over the Texans. It was another six game losing streak before Carolina won again. This time, 9-7 over the Atlanta Falcons.
Buccaneers Make Postseason
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to win this game. Can the Buccaneers cover the spread is the next question? They should. How is Carolina going to keep in this game, if the Buccaneers play solid football? They shouldn’t. We will take our chances with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning and winning by a touchdown or more in this game.
Our final betting pick for this Week 18 game is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -5.5 over the Carolina Panthers.
