Carolina Panther (1-10) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)
Carolina Panther vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12/3/23 – The struggling Carolina Panthers face off against the underwhelming Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a premium matchup reviews between NFC South rivals. Both teams have had disappointing seasons but will look to end on a high note. The Panthers offense has struggled behind young quarterback Bryce Young. Their rushing attack led by Chuba Hubbard has shown flashes but lacks consistency. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s offense has underperformed despite veteran QB Baker Mayfield and elite receiver Mike Evans. This NFC South showdown could go either way.
The Panthers rushing attack has not provided consistent production this year. Chuba Hubbard is averaging only 3.9 yards per carry as the lead back. Carolina lacks a true rushing threat and ranks 30th in the NFL with only 87 rushing yards per game. In the passing game, rookie Bryce Young has flashed potential but struggled with turnovers, totaling 8 interceptions so far. His top target Adam Thielen has been solid, catching 76 passes for 726 yards. However, Carolina lacks other reliable receiving weapons. Overall, the Panthers passing offense ranks 26th, unable to find consistency.
Even with Baker Mayfield under center, Tampa Bay lacks offensive punch. Running back Rachaad White leads with only 459 rushing yards; no real running threat exists and they rank dead last with 78.5 yards per game rushing. Mike Evans remains a top receiver averaging 16.3 yards per catch with seven touchdowns; no other Bucs receivers have emerged to fill Evans’ spot; Mayfield himself has been pedestrian thus far and only produced 15 touchdowns and 6 interceptions for the year; in short, an overall lack of offensive playmakers has plagued them this season.
Carolina Panther vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 4:05 PM ET |
| Where: | Raymond James Stadium |
| TV: | CBS |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Bryce Young QB vs. Baker Mayfield QB
Bryce Young has shown promise in his rookie season but struggled with turnovers and inconsistency behind a poor offensive line. He has talent but Carolina’s offense lacks talent around him. He could perform well but could also make young quarterback mistakes.
Baker Mayfield is an experienced but often mediocre veteran QB. He limits mistakes generally but also fails to make big plays consistently. Mayfield is steady but unspectacular, unlikely to carry the Bucs offense but can avoid losing games.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -240, Total Odds: 39.5
This NFC South rivalry game could certainly go either way. Carolina has struggled mightily while Tampa has been disappointing. The Bucs are favored by 6.5 points at home. However, Carolina has played tough despite their record. The total is just 39.5 points as both offenses have stalled often. This game shapes up to be a close, low-scoring defensive affair.
Carolina Panthers Betting Trends
Carolina has gone 2-7 against the spread in their last 9 games, consistently underperforming betting expectations during their losing streak. The total has gone UNDER 5 of their last 5 games as the Panthers offense sputters. Carolina is just 1-5 against Tampa Bay in their last 6 meetings. The Panthers have also lost 6 straight road games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends
Tampa Bay has actually gone 4-1 against the spread in their last 5 games, showing some betting value despite their losing record. However, the total has still gone UNDER in 7 of their last 9 games as scoring remains lackluster. Within the division, Tampa has owned Carolina at home, going 5-1 straight up in their last 6 homes games against the Panthers.
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12/3/23 Betting Picks
This NFC South rivalry game will likely be hard-fought and defensive-oriented given both teams’ offensive struggles. The Bucs are 6.5-point home favorites but Carolina generally plays them tight. Consider taking the Panthers with the points here as this could easily be a grind-it-out type game that goes down to the wire.
Tampa’s offense has more overall talent but Carolina’s defense has held tough all year long despite their record. We predict a low-scoring, defensive battle that fails to reach the projected point total. For our expert football analysis, take the Panthers with the points at +6.5 along with the UNDER 39.5 points.
Free Picks and Prediction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20, Carolina Panthers 17