Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/29/24
The Panthers and Buccaneers will face off on Sunday, December 29th at 1:00 ET on CBS. The Buccaneers are heavily favored with a money line of -416, and the point spread is -8 in favor of the Buccaneers. This week 17 matchup is an important one for both teams, and the over/under line is set at 49.5 points.
CAROLINA PANTHERS VS TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Carolina Panthers +8
This game will be played at Raymond James Stadium at 1:00 ET on Sunday, December 29th.
WHY BET THE CAROLINA PANTHERS:
- We have the Buccaneers winning this one by a score of 27 to 23
- Even though we like the Buccaneers to win, our ATS pick is to take the Panthers at +8
- Look for this game to go over the line of 49.5 points
Will The Panthers Pull Off An Upset As Road Underdogs
Heading into week 17, the Panthers sit at 4-11, ranking 32nd in our power rankings. Carolina has a -11 scoring margin this season but is 7-8 against the spread, including a 7-7 record as an underdog. Their O/U record is 11-4, with the over hitting in two straight games.
In week 16, the Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 36-30 win over the Cardinals. They were 5.5-point underdogs but came away with the win, bringing their record to 4-11. The game’s 66 points easily cleared the 47-point line.
Heading into week 17, the Panthers are 24th in our offensive power rankings. They sit 26th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 18.9, and rank 30th in both passing yards (183.5) and total yards per game (295.8). Carolina is 16th in rushing, with 112.3 yards per game, and 27th in 3rd-down conversions, converting 35.3% of their attempts.
Bryce Young had a strong performance in week 16, posting a passer rating of 107 with 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 152 yards on 25 carries, while Adam Thielen led the team with 43 receiving yards on 5 catches. Carolina scored 30 points in regulation and added 6 more in overtime in their win over Arizona.
In their 36-30 overtime win over the Cardinals, the Panthers’ defense gave up 206 rushing yards on just 29 attempts. Despite this, they held Arizona to 176 yards passing and forced one interception. The Panthers allowed just 20 completions and limited the Cardinals to a passing yards per attempt of 5.5. Additionally, they gave up just one passing touchdown and recorded three sacks.
On the day, the Panthers allowed 382 total yards, with Arizona finding success on the ground. Carolina’s defense also struggled on third downs, allowing the Cardinals to convert 46.2% of their third down attempts.
Are The Buccaneers Going To Defend Home Field Advantage?
After three straight wins, the Buccaneers couldn’t keep the streak going in week 16, falling 26-24 to the Cowboys. This dropped Tampa Bay to 8-7, leaving them 2nd in the NFC South. They have a +5 scoring margin this season and are 9-6 against the spread, including a 5-3 record as underdogs. Their O/U record stands at 10-5, with the over hitting in their last two games.
Heading into week 17, the Bucs have a 58.1% chance of making the playoffs and a 51.7% chance of winning the division. They rank 8th in our NFL power rankings. Tampa Bay is 3-4 at home and 5-3 on the road this season.
Heading into week 17, the Buccaneers rank 9th in our offensive power rankings. They are 5th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 28.5, and they rank 3rd in passing yards per game with 246.1. On the ground, Tampa Bay is 7th in rushing yards per game, averaging 143.7. They have been strong on 3rd down, converting 48.4% of their attempts, which ranks 2nd in the league.
In week 16, Baker Mayfield threw for 303 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 31 of 43 passes against the Cowboys. Mike Evans led the team with 5 catches for 69 yards, while Bucky Irving had 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Tampa Bay scored 14 points in the 2nd quarter and converted all 3 of their red zone opportunities.
In their 26-24 loss to the Cowboys, the Buccaneers’ defense allowed just 31 rushing yards on 20 attempts, with Dallas finding more success through the air. The Bucs gave up 286 passing yards on 26 completions, including one touchdown. Despite this, Tampa Bay’s defense held Dallas to a 33.3% conversion rate on third downs.
Tampa Bay managed just one sack in the game and didn’t generate more quarterback hits than the Cowboys. The Bucs’ defense will be looking to tighten up in the secondary, as Dallas completed 74.3% of their passes in the game.