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Edgar Chaput
Panthers vs. Buccaneers Point Spread: NFL Week 17 Odds, Prediction
As crazy as it sounds, the division and a playoff spot are still up for grabs, so this is a momentous occasion for familiar foes to clash.
Todd Bowles’ Buccaneers hold the edge as 3-point favourites on the NFL odds. Furthermore, a relatively low-scoring game is expected given the O/U is established at 40 points.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Right up until this season, things were grand for Tampa Bay when taking on Carolina. The squad had claimed the past four tilts, none of which had been remotely close. That changed this season when the teams shared a dance in Week 7. Carolina ran all over Tampa Bay and thus ran away as 21-3 winners.
Steve Wilks’ side has only managed to amass a 6-9 win-loss tally on the year. Given the division’s weakness, that record keeps them in the hunt for the NFC South crown. Things have gone slightly better against the spread. An 8-7 ATS record is a reason for optimism, especially when considering they have successfully covered five of the past six games. Four times over that span they were underdogs, for that matter.
The same cannot be said of the Buccaneers. They lead the division at 7-8, but it’s been a horrendous season ATS. At 3-11-1 ATS, it speaks volumes about the rough go bettors have had when putting faith in the Bucs. More critical is the fact that the team hasn’t covered in six weeks and that game wasn’t even played in the U.S. Even modest -3.5 and +3.5 spreads couldn’t be dealt with.
Carolina Panthers
Week 16’s tilt with the visiting Detroit Lions came at a critical juncture for both organizations. Not only was Carolina still chasing the AFC South crown, but the Lions were in the midst of their own unlikely playoff push. Given the positive vibes surrounding Detroit heading into the game, it was understandable most favoured them.
The Panthers and the cold outdoor weather had other plans. For a brief spell, when the Lions tied the score 7-7 in the first quarter, it felt as if fans would get the game they hoped for. Not so. Carolina’s rushing duo of Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Foreman terrorized the Detroit defence to the tune of 290 yards collectively, with bewildering averages of 7.9 and 10.4 yards per touch. Along with a sneaky good defence, the running backs are the key reason why Carolina is still in a playoff race at all. One could argue the 37-23 final score even flattered Detroit to an extent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Have the Bucs looked especially good this year? No, but the football gods have ordained that the NFC South should be anybody’s game in 2022. So here we are with a 7-8 Tampa Bay squad that can still host a Wild Card game.
Sunday night required a Christmas miracle if you will. The comeback to win 19-16 from down 16-6 on the road against a Cardinals defence that had played them quite tough all night was commendable. It wasn’t the first time this season the Bucs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Even so, there were multiple eyesores. Tom Brady tossed a couple of brutal picks that night and the running game continued its moribund ways (they couldn’t earn first downs on short-yardage situations). The defence is holding its own and surely salivates at the prospect of performing better against the Panthers this time.
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