Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers NFL Betting Odds & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 3, 2009

The 1-10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the 4-7 Carolina Panthers this Sunday in a Week 13 NFC South battle. Last week, the Bucs got the benefit of both Matt Ryan and Michael Turner going down with injuries, but they still came up short against the Falcons with a 20-17 loss. Meanwhile, it was another nightmare day for QB Jake Delhomme, and the Panthers fell 17-6 to the Jets as a result. Carolina has won five of the past seven meetings in this matchup and owns an 11-7 advantage in the all-time series. NFL lines makers have listed the Carolina Panthers as a 6-point favorite with the total set at 40.

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Outside a 38-7 loss to the Saints, rookie QB Josh Freeman has kept the Bucs in every game he has started. In four career starts, Freeman has been impressive, throwing for 793 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also showed a poise in the pocket beyond his years and great escapability. He continues to get better each week and just might have enough magic to help the Bucs pick up their second win of the season against the struggling Panthers. It’s also nice to see Cadillac Williams over his injury woes and becoming a major contributor again. Williams has 480 yards and three touchdowns on the season, and he could be poised for a big day against the Panthers as he has scored five touchdowns in his last six games against them.

It’s been a tough season for veteran defensive back Ronde Barber, I’m sure, as he has been used to playing on one of the NFL’s best defenses for a decade. But even on a bad team, Barber is leaving it all out on the field. He has recorded two sacks, a forced fumble, and has scored a touchdown on a blocked punt. He also seems to have embraced his role as a mentor on one of the NFL’s youngest teams. It is worth noting that the Buccaneers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0 points. If you think Tampa Bay has what it takes to pull off the upset, bet the Buccaneers at +6 at Bodog.

With expectations so high after earning a NFC South title in 2008, this season has been a trying one for the Panthers, who are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoff race. And it gets no easier down the stretch with games against New England, Minnesota, the New York Giants, and New Orleans. That’s why Carolina better make sure they take care of business here.

Jake Delhomme has not been the same since coming back from an injury to his throwing arm. He just doesn’t have the same accuracy he once did and his confidence gets dealt another blow with each interception. The Panthers appear to be going with Matt Moore this week and likely would be whether Delhomme had a finger injury or not. Moore doesn’t have much experience so the Panthers are really going to have to run the football well with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams to win this football game. Stewart could be the one poised for the big day considering he has eclipsed the century mark in two straight games against the Bucs. It is worth noting that the favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings. If you expect this trend to continue, bet the Panthers at -6 at Bodog.

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