The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be aiming to repeat as NFC South champions when they host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay has lost two of its last three games, but it can still clinch its third straight playoff berth with a win this week. Carolina can drastically improve its playoff chances with an upset on Sunday, as it has already knocked off Tampa Bay once this season and is just one game back of the Buccaneers in the standings.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET. The Buccaneers are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Buccaneers vs. Panthers odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 40.5. Before making any Panthers vs. Buccaneers picks and NFL predictions, you'll want to see the NFL predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 158-113 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. The model ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is WAY UP.
Now, the model has set its sights on Bucs vs. Panthers. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NFL betting lines for Panthers vs. Bucs:
- Buccaneers vs. Panthers spread: Buccaneers -3.5
- Buccaneers vs. Panthers over/under: 40.5 points
- Buccaneers vs. Panthers money line: Tampa Bay -195, Carolina +162
- Buccaneers vs. Panthers picks: See picks here
Why the Buccaneers can cover
Tampa Bay has the best quarterback of all time leading its offense, which was the difference maker in last week's game against Arizona. The Buccaneers were able to erase a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit behind a pair of scoring drives engineered by Tom Brady, who has thrown for at least 250 yards in four straight games. He has more experience playing in big games than Carolina's entire roster combined, which gives the Buccaneers a huge edge late in the season.
Brady received help from his running backs last week as well, with Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White combining for more than 100 yards. Fournette also had a big day in the passing game, hauling in nine receptions for 90 yards. Tampa Bay has won and covered the spread in four of the last five meetings between these teams, while Carolina is 1-9 in its last 10 road games.
Why the Panthers can cover
Tampa Bay has been the worst betting option of any team in the NFL this season, covering the spread just one time in its last 13 games. The Buccaneers were 13-point road favorites in their trip to Carolina two months ago, getting blown out in a 21-3 upset. Brady has been dealing with uncharacteristic turnover issues over the past three weeks, throwing two interceptions in all three games.
Carolina has quietly been able to stay near the top of the NFC South standings, winning three of its four games since Sam Darnold took over as the starting quarterback. He has led an offense that is averaging 26.5 points per game during that four-game stretch, throwing four touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Carolina's rushing attack racked up a franchise-record 320 rushing yards against the Lions, marking the fourth time in six games that the Panthers have tallied at least 185 rushing yards.
How to make Buccaneers vs. Panthers picks
The model has simulated Panthers vs. Buccaneers 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread has all the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Buccaneers vs. Panthers? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Panthers vs. Buccaneers spread you need to jump on Sunday, all from the model that has crushed its NFL picks, and find out.
