Tampa Bay’s playoff odds look to increase when they host the Carolina Panthers.
The Buccaneers are 8-7 and need to win out in order to make the postseason. Tampa Bay had its four-game winning streak snapped at Dallas (26-24) on Monday Night Football, so this is a bounce-back spot at home. The Bucs host the Saints next weekend, so two divisional wins against teams with losing records and a little help is what Tampa Bay needs.
Tampa Bay currently holds a 48% chance of making the playoffs and with a win, that becomes 66%, but a home loss to the Panthers and 13% would be the new percentage.
Carolina is 4-11 on the season and coming off a home OT win versus Arizona (36-30) to knock the Cardinals out of the playoff race. The Panthers are 1-4 since the bye week, but playing quality football with losses of 3, 3, 6, and 16 to the Chiefs, Bucs, Eagles, and Cowboys in that span. Carolina is on the road this week and next (Atlanta) to wrap up its season.
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Game Details and How to watch the Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday
· Date: Sunday, December 29, 2024
· Time: 1:00 PM EST
· Site: Raymond James Stadium
· City: Tampa, FL
· TV/Streaming: CBS
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Game odds for Bucs vs. Panthers
The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-395), Carolina Panthers (+310)
Spread: Buccaneers -8 (-110)
Total: 48.0
The opening spread was +8 to +8.5 at most sportsbooks, so money has come in on Carolina. The total touched 49.5 but has come back down to 48.0 with the next key number being 47.0.
NBC Sports Bet Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Mike Evans to find the end zone against Carolina:
“Everyone will be targeting Mike Evans yards as he is chasing another 1,000-yard season, but I like his touchdown odds of -120.
Yes, Evans has torched Carolina in the past. Evans has 77 or more yards in seven of the last nine meetings and 118, 162, and 207 in three of the past four.
However, Evans scored earlier this month versus Carolina and six of the past eight meetings (9 total TDs). In 20 career matchups, he has 12 touchdowns against the Panthers. I will bet on it happening again.”
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers team stats, betting trends
- Carolina is 7-8 ATS this season and 7-7 ATS as an underdog.
- Tampa Bay is 9-6 ATS on the year and 4-3 ATS as a favorite.
- The Bucs are 2-1 ATS as a home favorite and 2-1 to the Under.
- The Panthers are 11-4 to the Over, ranking second-best.
- Carolina is 4-2 to the Over as a road underdog.
- The Bucs are 10-5 to the Over, ranking tied for third-best.
- Bryce Young has a rushing touchdown in three of the past four games.
- Bryce Young has at least one touchdown pass in eight straight games.
- Chuba Hubbard had two touchdowns last week and scored five touchdowns over the previous five games.
- Baker Mayfield has 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in the last four games
- Baker Mayfield has thrown at least one interception in four straight.
- Mike Evans has 68 or more yards in five consecutive games.
- Bucky Irving has 68 or more rushing yards in five of the last six games.
Quarterback matchup for Tampa Bay vs. Carolina
Carolina: Bryce Young – Since the bye week, Young has had 10 total touchdowns (seven passing) and three interceptions in six games. He’s recorded a rushing touchdown in three of the past four games and thrown at least one score in that span.
Tampa Bay: Baker Mayfield - Mayfield is 6th in the NFL with 3,924 passing yards and has 34 touchdowns to 15 interceptions on the year. Mayfield has 10 touchdowns and six picks over the last four games entering the playoff run.
Buccaneers and Panthers injury update
Tampa Bay’s TE Cade Otton (knee), DB Jordan Whitehead (personal), and WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) are out, while DB Mike Edwards (hamstring) is questionable along with a handful of reserve players.
Carolina’s LB Jadeveon Clowney (knee), DE A’Shawn Robinson (knee), K Eddy Pineiro (knee), OL Robert Hunt (illness), and a few reserves are questionable for this game.
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