Panthers are NFL Week 16 Spread Favorites Against Buccaneers

Most of the 8 divisions in the NFL have already been clinched or are 1 win or loss away from being done, but it looks as though the NFC South is going to go right down to the wire. This division has been fun to watch all season long, and with just two weeks left in the regular season, there are still 3 teams that have a legitimate shot at winning it. There is also the possibility that all three of those teams could be in the playoffs when all is said and done, which is why the NFL Week 16 spread for the games involving them may be a little harder to read. The four teams in the South will be meeting this weekend, and while the game between the Saints and the Falcons is getting all the press, you cannot overlook the Panthers going up against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is already done after a poor regular season, but they pushed the Falcons to the limit last weekend and would love nothing more than to put a dent in the playoff hopes of the Carolina Panthers. Given the divisional records of the 3 teams in the hunt for the division crown, this is one that the Panthers need to win. Carolina is a 10-point favorite for this one, with the point total set at 46 ½.

Tampa Bay (4-10) at Carolina (10-4) NFL Week 16 Spread & Game Preview

Top-Rated Quarterbacks in the Red Zone this year- Wentz would be #1 on this list if he wasn’t injured, figured I’d answer that one before 10 people asked!#GiantsPride #GoPackGo #GoSaints #Skol #LARams #Jaguars #Bucs #GoPats #BroncosCountry #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/ToMVafOhb0
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) 21 de diciembre de 2017

When: Sunday, December 24 at 1 PM EST
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
TV: FOX
Radio: 97.9 FM (Tampa Bay) / 106.1 FM (Carolina)
NFL Week 16 Spread: Carolina Panthers -10 (46.5)

Weather Forecast

Overcast: 12°C/54°F
Humidity: 67%
Precipitation: 15%
Cloud Cover: 94%
Wind: 6 mph ENE
Stadium Type: Open

Series History

Total Meetings: 34
First Meeting: 10/01/1995 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 vs. Carolina Panthers 13
Last Meeting: 10/29/2017 – Carolina Panthers 17 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3
All-Time Series: Carolina Panthers lead 21-13-0
Largest Margin of Victory: Carolina Panthers by 32 points (12/24/2011)
Longest Win Streak: Carolina Panthers winning 6
Current Win Streak: Carolina Panthers winning 1

Why bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

2017 was supposed to be the year when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took another big step forward, with many viewing them as a Super Bowl dark horse prior to the start of the season. After all, this is a good young team that had an excellent season last year, and who added some nice parts to make a run at the playoffs this time around. The season has turned into an unmitigated disaster, though, with the Bucs picking up just 4 wins in 14 games. A lot of accusatory fingers have been pointed at the coaching staff and also at QB Jameis Winston, but there is a lot of blame to go around in this group. It is the coaches who may end up biting the bullet, though, especially if this team loses its final two games of the season. Tampa is just 3-7 in their last 10 meetings with the Panthers, and are 2-4 SU in their last 6 visits to Carolina.

Team Statistics

Offense

Average Score For: 20.36
Total Yards: 354.93
Rush Yards: 90.86
Passing Yards: 264.07

Defense

Average Score Against: 24.00
Total Yards: 390.79
Rush Yards: 119.50
Passing Yards: 271.29

Why bet on the Carolina Panthers?

The Panthers were a little slow out the gate this season, but they have been strong over the last couple of months, winning 6 of their last 7 games. They are getting healthy, too, and got Gregg Olsen back in the fold last week, which suggests that they might even get stronger in a final couple of weeks and into the playoffs. The lone loss in recent weeks came at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, and that may come into play when looking at the tiebreaker scenarios to decide the division winner.

The Panthers are favored by the NFL Week 16 Spread.

The NFL Week 16 spread favorite Panthers are just 2-2 in divisional games, although they can certainly help their cause with a win here and a Saints loss to the Falcons. A win for Atlanta would give them the best divisional record., but they would still be a game back to the Panthers overall. Carolina is 4-1 SU and ATS in their last 5 home games, and 6 of their last 8 meetings with Tampa Bay have gone OVER.

Team Statistics

Offense

Average Score For: 23.64
Total Yards: 334.00
Rush Yards: 135.71
Passing Yards: 198.29

Defense

Average Score Against: 20.43
Total Yards: 307.93
Rush Yards: 91.64
Passing Yards: 216.29

Latest NFL Week 16 Betting Trends

Buccaneers are 3-9-1 ATS in their last 13 games
Buccaneers are 2-9 SU in their last 11 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Tampa Bay’s last 8 games on the road
Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games
Panthers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Carolina’s last 5 games

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Panthers can keep their dream of winning the division alive with a win here, and I do not see them passing up that opportunity at home. I like Carolina to win and cover the NFL Week 16 spread, and for the total to go OVER. Score: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17 – Carolina Panthers 30