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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers NFL Sports Betting Guide

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Both of these teams are trying to shrug off tough losses in Week 1, and they’ll have a short week to straighten things out. It’s evident that the Buccaneers are feeling more urgency after a forgettable performance last week. That especially holds true for quarterback Jameis Winston, who went 20-for-36 with one touchdown and three interceptions against the 49ers last Sunday. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton will be looking to bounce back as well, given his inefficiencies of 25-for-38 with one interception against the Rams in Week 1. This is projected as a high-scoring affair, and it could come down to which quarterback plays a cleaner game.

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Details

  • Opening Lines: The Panthers opened at -6.5 with the over/under at 51. The spread has shifted marginally in favor of the Panthers, while the over/under dropped over a full point. 
  • Current Line: Panthers -7 at FanDuel Sportsbook
  • O/U: 49.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook
  • Location: Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
  • Start Time: 8:20 pm ET
  • Television: NFL Network
  • Last Meeting: December 2, 2018 – Buccaneers defeated Panthers 24-17 in Tampa Bay

View consensus picks from 100+ experts for the Buccaneers at Panthers >>

Overview

It’s clear the Buccaneers have some issues with the offensive line. They’ll need to rectify that situation or at least disguise the problem with their gameplan on Thursday. All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans was playing through illness last week, so having more time to recover could help him improve on an uncharacteristically quiet with two receptions for 28 yards in the opener. Unfortunately, he could be looking at a difficult matchup in a shadow situation against Carolina cornerback James Bradberry. Fellow wideout Chris Godwin and tight end O.J. Howard will need to step up as a result, so keep that in mind for fantasy or player prop purposes. Tampa Bay’s defense allowed 31 points last week to San Francisco, but keep in mind two touchdowns came off interceptions thrown by Winston. 

Christian McCaffrey was the bright spot in Carolina’s 30-27 loss against the Los Angeles Rams last week. The Panthers’ running back racked up 128 rushing yards on 16 carries (6.7 YPC) and two touchdowns. He also hauled in 10 receptions for 81 yards. The Panthers may need him to carry the offense again on Thursday, as quarterback Newton reported he was “rusty” in last week’s opener. If Newton can’t redeem himself against a vulnerable Buccaneers’ secondary on Thursday, it may be time to worry about him. 

Trends

  • The over is 6-2 in the Bucs last eight road games.
  • The over is 6-3 in the Panthers last nine home games.
  • The road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
  • The Panthers are 7-12 ATS vs NFC South over the past three years.
  • The Bucs are 10-8-3 as a road underdog over the past three years. 

Prop Bets

Chris Godwin OVER 63 receiving yards
This was teased earlier in the article, but Godwin is primed for a breakout showing on Thursday. The game script calls for a pass-heavy approach from the Buccaneers, and the lack of a running game will keep the passing attempts high for Winston. Fellow wide receiver Mike Evans will see a difficult assignment while likely attracting shadow coverage from cornerback James Bradberry, which frees Godwin to feast out of the slot. It doesn’t hurt that Tampa coach Bruce Arians has gushed over Godwin for months now. 

Bottom Line

It’s difficult to have too much confidence in Tampa Bay, especially considering the frustrating performance of Winston last week. He’ll always be a wild card in that respect, but that’s the main blemish of this Buccaneers team at the moment (along with their offensive line). Other than that, the Bucs didn’t look too bad in Week 1, leading me to believe they can keep this one competitive on Thursday night. This is certainly an uneasy wager, but I’ll lean towards the away team getting a full touchdown here. 

Pick: Buccanneers +7 at FanDuel Sportsbook

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Spencer Limbach is a featured writer at BettingPros and FantasyPros. For more from Spencer, check out his archive and follow him @spencer_jl.