by Rod Pearson
Thursday, Dec 26, 2024
Game Time: 1:00 pm ET, Sunday, December 29, 2024
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Where to Watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Point Spread: Panthers +7.5, Buccaneers -7.5; Over/Under: 48.5 points
Bet365: Point Spread: Panthers +8, Buccaneers -8; Over/Under: 48.5 points
BetMGM: Point Spread: Panthers +8, Buccaneers -8; Over/Under: 48.5 points
Season Record
Carolina Panthers: 4-11 (4th place, NFC South)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-7 (2nd place, NFC South)
Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Jim Feist is on a HOT STREAK in the NFL on a 47-36-1 NFL RUN for +$6,920 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.
Recent Form
Carolina Panthers: won their last game at home against the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 in overtime.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: lost their last game on the road against the Dallas Cowboys 26-24.
Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview and Analysis
The Panthers are entering this game with a 4-11 record overall and they have a 1-3 record in their divisional games too. They are 2-6 in their home games, 1-5 in their road games, and they are also 1-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be on the road for this game. They won their last game against the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 in OT. Bryce Young was the starting QB and he completed 17/26 passes for 158 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Chuba Hubbard led the team in rushing yards with 152 and 2 TDs. Adam Thielen led the receivers with 43 receiving yards on 5 receptions and 1 TD. Mike Jackson led the defense in that game with 5 solo tackles and 1 assisted tackle while Jacoby Windmon, A'Shawn Robinson, and D.J. Wonnum each led the defense in sacks with 1. Demani Richardson came away with the only interception for them in that one.
The Buccaneers are entering this game with an 8-7 record overall and they have a 2-2 record in their divisional games too. They are 3-4 in their home games, 5-3 in their road games, and they are also 0-0 in their neutral site games this season, but they will be at home for this game. They lost their last game against the Dallas Cowboys 26-24. Baker Mayfield was the starting QB and he completed 31/43 passes for 303 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Bucky Irving led the team in rushing yards with 68 and 1 TD. Mike Evans led the receivers with 69 receiving yards on 5 receptions. Christian Izien led the defense in that game with 9 solo tackles and 4 assisted tackles while YaYa Diaby and Calijah Kancey each led the defense in sacks with 0.5. No one on the defense came away with an interception for them in that one.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Prediction
The current betting odds have the Panthers listed as a 7.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Panthers have looked terrible in their games this season with their 4-11 record overall which has them at the bottom of the NFC South and eliminated from the playoffs. As bad as they have looked all season, they have been looking a lot better over the last few weeks as they have been playing in some tight games against good opponents, and now they are coming off a win over the Cardinals in their last one. That win ended the playoff hopes for the Cardinals so this Panthers team will still be looking to play spoiler until the end of the season, and they have another chance to do that here. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have looked good in their games this season with their 8-7 record overall which has them in 2nd place of the NFC South, but they are coming off a loss to the Cowboys last week which gave the Falcons complete control of the division again. The Buccaneers haven't looked great on defense over the last few weeks either, and this is a feisty Panthers team that has been putting up some points lately. The Bucs need to win this game, but now the pressure is really on them and they haven't looked as good on their home field this year with their 3-4 home record. These two also played a game that went to OT just a few weeks ago so this isn't a game that the Bucs are going to have control in as the Panthers will be able to hang around. The best way to place a bet here is on the Panthers to cover the spread in this game.
Panthers Buccaneers Prediction: Our NFL Pick for Sunday, December 29, 2024 (1:00 pm ET start time) is Buccaneers 30 Panthers 27.
Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NFL predictions and previews.
NFL Betting Trends
Carolina Panthers: 7-4 ATS versus division opponents. 7-4 ATS versus good rushing teams - averaging 4.5 rushing yards/carry or more. 9-3 UNDER versus division opponents. 9-4 1H UNDER revenging a loss against an opponent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3-9 ATS in a home game where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. 4-10 ATS versus good rushing teams - averaging 4.5 rushing yards/carry or more. 4-11 ATS vs. bad defensive teams who give up 24 or more points/game. 18-9 UNDER as a favorite. 9-4 UNDER in a home game where the total is between 42.5 and 49 points. 6-3 UNDER off an upset loss as a favorite.
Key Injuries
Carolina Panthers: X. Legette (WR) Injured - Hip. A. Robinson (DE) Injured - Knee. D. Wonnum (OLB) Injured - Shoulder. B. Young (QB) Injured - Hamstring. T. Moton (T) Injured - Knee. C. Smith-Wade (CB) Injured - Illness. J. Horn (CB) Injured - Hip. C. Hubbard (RB) Injured - NIR - Rest. J. Clowney (OLB) Injured - Knee. I. Ekwonu (T) Injured - Shoulder. C. Mays (C) Injured - Illness. J. Jewell (LB) Injured - Quadriceps.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S. Shepard (WR) Injured - Hamstring. W. Gholston (DL) Injured - Knee. M. Evans (WR) Injured - Rest. J. Whitehead (SAF) Injured - Pectoral. K. Britt (LB) Injured - Ankle. M. Edwards (SAF) Injured - Illness. T. Wirfs (T) Injured - Foot/Knee. A. Winfield (SAF) Injured - Knee. C. Otton (TE) Injured - Knee. K. Merriweather (SAF) Injured - Knee. C. Izien (SAF) Injured - Pectoral. L. Hall (DL) Injured - Shoulder. K. Johnson (WR) Injured - Ankle. G. Barton (C) Injured - Illness.
Notable Quotes
"I think what I'm concerned about is, are we doing enough? Are we doing things the right way? Are we disciplined enough to stick to our process and make sure that it's good to maximize the opportunity to go out there to compete and win a game?" - Jonathan Gannon after his team’s loss against the Panthers in their last game.
“I’ve said it all along, this group will not quit. That’s the standard that we try to set. It’d be nice to not have to be in that situation, if we’d take care of business earlier in the game.” - Baker Mayfield after their loss against the Cowboys in their last game.
Starting Lineups
Carolina Panthers
WR Coker, Jalen
WR Moore, David
WR Thielen, Adam
TE Tremble, Tommy
QB Young, Bryce
RB Hubbard, Chuba
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR Evans, Mike
WR McMillan, Jalen
WR Shepard, Sterling
TE Durham, Payne
QB Mayfield, Baker
RB Irving, Bucky
Statistical Leaders
Carolina Panthers
Passing: B. Young (1949)
Rushing: C. Hubbard (1195)
Receiving: A. Thielen (461)
Touchdowns: C. Hubbard (11)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Passing: B. Mayfield (3920)
Rushing: B. Irving (920)
Receiving: M. Evans (818)
Touchdowns: M. Evans (9)
Coaches:
Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales (1st season)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles (3rd season)
Rod Pearson
About the Author:
Rod Pearson has been a rabid sports fan his entire life. He grew up in Ontario, and was skilled in both hockey and baseball, and pitched in an elite baseball league for many years. In 2022, Rod decided to hang up his glove, so that he could write about the sports he loves -- but from a gambling perspective. Join Rod every day as he breaks down the games to find the best betting value.
