NFL Sportsbook – Panthers Attempt to Stay Competitive Against Tampa Bay

The Carolina Panthers are a team that many NFL Sportsbooks have very little faith in and for good reason. This week the Panthers travel to Tampa Bay to take on the upstart Buccaneers without their starting quarterback and perhaps their best two running back options.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-7) vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-3)

Sunday, November 14, 1:00 PM ET

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Broadcast: FOX

NFL Sportsbook Odds:

Carolina: +6 ½ (-110)
Tampa Bay: -6 ½ (-110)

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Moneyline: Carolina +235: Tampa Bay -275
Total: 36 ½ points

The Carolina Panthers have had the dubious distinction of being an NFL Sportsbook underdog for the entire season. Have they made good? Actually they have on a couple of occasions but that was when DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Matt Moore were healthy! Now the injury bug has forced the retched Panthers to turn to the unproductive Jimmy Claussen to throw the ball and some dude named Mike Goodsen to run the ball!

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The Panthers have one of the worst offenses in recent memory. They have the 32nd ranked passing game (153 yards per game) and the 26th ranked running game (90.75 yards per game). Carolina is scoring an average of just 11 points per game so far in this miserable season.

Carolina’s defense has been good versus the pass so far and poor versus the run, which makes a lot of sense since teams don’t need to throw the ball in order to win. The game plan against the Panthers has been – jump out to an early lead and run the ball to keep the clock running.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ate a little humble pie last week but still beat the NFL Sportsbook spread! Their offense has been solid, not spectacular and the defense has been hot and cold all season long.

Second year quarterback Josh Freeman has turned into a very good “game manager” and his 1722 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions has the Tampa passing game ranked 19th, exactly the same ranking as the running game that has found its stride since anointing LaGarrette Blount as their starter.

The Tampa defense has been their sore spot this season. They rank 12th versus the pass (213.5 yards per game) and a miserable 30th versus the run (147 yards per game). At home the Bucs defense, in four games, is giving up an average of 25 points and 169 rushing yards.

NFL Sportsbook Outlook:

The Carolina Panthers are 1-7 SU overall, 2-6 ATS in their last eight and 1-6 SU in their last seven games on the road. Carolina is 11-4 SU in their last 15 games versus the Buccaneers, 6-1 SU in Tampa Bay and 5-2 ATS in their last seven trips to Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay is 8-17 SU in their last 25 games and is just 3-11 SU in their last 14 at home. They are 2-13 ATS in their last 15 games at home and 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games against Carolina.

There is a very slim chance that either DeAngelo Williams of Jonathan Stewart could return this week for the Panthers but if one or both don`t, it will be a long afternoon for the Carolina Panthers. Jump on the 6 ½ now – if word comes that Claussen and Goodsen will indeed be the battery for the Panthers, the line may move up. This game won`t be close any way that you slice it.

NFL Sportsbook Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -6 ½