Panthers vs. Bucs Total Prediction
NFC South foes clash in Tampa on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET when the Bucs host the Carolina Panthers. With the total sitting in the mid-50s will the game turn high-scoring for bettors or will these rivals not combine for enough points?
Game Snapshot
355 Carolina Panthers at 356 Tampa Bay Bucs
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 2
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Panthers are 3.5-point favorites to beat the Bucs. The total, meanwhile, sits at 54.5 points. As of this writing, 65% of the public betting tickets are on the Panthers to cover the point spread.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton completed 25-of-30 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the Panthers’ Week 12 loss to the Seahawks, adding 63 yards on the ground. Newton started this game hot, completing all 14 of his first-half passes, but the Panthers consistently left points on the board in the red zone. Newton was stuffed on fourth down on the opening drive, and another good drive bogged down in the red zone later in the first quarter. The Panthers finally found the end zone when Newton hit Curtis Samuel with a seven-yard strike midway through the second quarter, but it was not the start of a trend. Carolina had to settle for a field goal at the end of the first half, and Newton threw an interception on the first drive of the second half. The Panthers scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives from there, but those missed opportunities along with a missed field goal allowed the Seahawks to steal the win. Coming off two games they should not have lost, Newton will try to get things back on track in a great matchup against the Bucs next week.
Tampa Bay Bucs
Jameis Winston completed 29-of-38 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs’ Week 12 win over the 49ers. He added seven carries for 24 yards. Most importantly, Winston avoided turnovers in a high-efficiency effort, also taking just one sack and finding Adam Humphries (28 yards) and Cameron Brate (6) for scores. Winston’s ups and downs have been maddeningly frustrating all year, but this is the kind of performance he is capable of when on his game. Winston will remain a high-upside Q1 play when Tampa Bay hosts a burnable Carolina defense next.
NFL Betting Trends
Carolina
The over is 4-1 in the Panthers’ last five games overall and is 15-5-1 in their last 21 games played in Week 13.
Tampa Bay
The over is 9-3 in the Bucs’ last 12 games overall but the under is 12-4 in their last 16 home games.
Prediction
Even though the total is sitting in the mid-50s, these two teams should combine for enough points to push the score over the total. The Bucs own the worst defense in the NFL and don’t have the athletes to match up with Cam Newton, Christian McCaffrey and rookie D.J. Moore. Conversely, Carolina’s biggest weakness is its secondary and while the Bucs have shuffled quarterbacks this year, they can move the ball through the air. This game has shootout potential.
NFL Week 13 Prediction: Panthers/Bucs over 54.5