Carolina Panthers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Odds and Picks Against the Spread

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-2, O/U 46), Sun., 1 p.m. ET

With Atlanta regressing, the NFC South is up for grabs, but neither team is grasping for it.

The Panthers (3-4) cannot take the wraps off their offense, which hit rock-bottom last Sunday by scoring three points at Chicago and bearing responsibility for both Bears touchdowns on interception returns.

The Bucs’ Achilles heel is defense. It ranks 30th in yards permitted, 29th in points. Tampa Bay (2-4) has dropped three in a row by an aggregate 13 points yet the division title is still within its sights. Sunday marks the team’s first of six NFC South tests.

LINE MOVEMENT, TRENDS

The number is locked in at minus-2 in favor of the hosts.

Carolina is thriving on the road in ATS terms, covering in five of the last six, and the away side has beaten the line in all but one of the past half-dozen meetings.

Tampa Bay has been unable to cover in its last five games, with one push.

BREAKDOWN

A long-term injury and a shorter one have hamstrung the Carolina offense. TE Greg Olsen (foot), out eight weeks, and C Ryan Kalil (neck), doubtful this week, are reliable blockers. 

Their absence has contributed to 22 sacks of QB Cam Newton. That is less of a concern against the Bucs, whose sack rate is the lowest in the league.

Where statistics can mislead: Tampa Bay owns the most prolific pass offense, which is best explained by the team trailing in most games. QB Jameis Winston is not enjoying the season that his decent statistics might suggest.

He might look often for first-year Buc WR DeSean Jackson, who has nearly 200 yards on a dozen catches in his last two appearances against the Panthers.

Newton, meantime, has blitzed the Bucs with 23 TD throws in nine meetings. Rookie RB Christian McCaffrey seemed on the verge of assuming a large role in the offense but has been quiet recently.

PICK

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