The Buccaneers are coming off a shocking 9-0 loss to New Orleans that denied them the divisional crown while also snapping a four-game win streak. The Panthers’ recent woes deepened with last week’s lopsided 31-14 loss in Buffalo, which extended their current straight up and against the spread losing streak to four games.

Tampa Bay is a 10-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 43.0.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Buccaneers have steadily lost ground since opening as 11.5-point favourites, dipping to their current position at -10 despite being backed by 67 per cent of sports bettors. The total has also been on the decline since opening at 44.5, and currently sits at 43.0.

Sunday afternoon’s matchup at Bank of America Stadium marks the first of two meetings between these NFC South rivals over the final three weeks of the regular season. The Buccaneers swept the two-game season series with Carolina in 2020, claiming victory by an average margin of 18.5 points. Overall, Tampa Bay has won and covered in four of five meetings with the Panthers since November 2018, while holding Carolina to 17 or fewer points on three occasions. However, the OVER has paid out in each of their past three head-to-head matchups.

The Buccaneers were also enjoying a steady run at the sportsbooks prior to last weekend’s loss to the Saints, covering in four straight contests. However, they are have gone 3-2 straight up and against the spread in their past five as double-digit chalk despite limiting opponents to fewer than 14 points per game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bounced from the top of the NFL MVP odds after being shutout by the Saints, Tom Brady will be aiming to return to the form that has put him on course for a career year. The 44-year-old pivot was kept out of the end zone for the first time in 10 games, but continues to lead all NFL passers in passing attempts, completions, yards, and TD passes. Brady will have to make do without his favourite downfield target Chris Godwin, who is now gone for the season with a knee injury. Receiver Mike Evans and rusher Leonard Fournette have also been hobbled by hamstring injuries. However, Antonio Brown is set to return to the lineup after serving a three-game suspension.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton connected on a TD pass and contributed a scoring run in the same game for the 44th time in his career, but it wasn’t enough to save the Panthers from a loss in buffalo that dumps them to 2-9 in their past 11. Newton has struggled at times in his return to the Panthers, and was intercepted once and sacked four times in last weekend’s defeat. Now winless in four appearances with Carolina, Newton is now expected to share duties with Sam Darnold, who is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past five games with a shoulder injury. Darnold steadily faded after leading the Panthers to a 3-0 start, and has failed to find the end zone in his three most recent appearances while tossing four picks.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Buccaneers vs. Panthers?