NFL Football
2024-12-29 - Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 17
Sunday 29th December 2024 - Scheduled 1pm
6pm (British Time)
Preview
Professional players know they are playing for their future whenever they step onto a NFL field, but there are times when management above them are making decisions that ultimately focus on the years ahead.
Fresh from scoring the Touchdown that eliminated the Arizona Cardinals from post-season play, the Carolina Panthers (4-11) have shut down Chuba Hubbard for the season. The Running Back has shown his worth to the team in 2024, but that is a decision that has not gone down very well with the fans and the Panthers might be glad to be on the road.
The travelling team will still want to show how much they have been improving and Quarter Back Bryce Young has two more games to display his talent. After a really poor rookie season and being benched in this one, Young has looked much more capable in recent weeks and the Panthers may choose to surround him with some more talent and really see what the young Quarter Back can do.
Motivation is also there to play spoiler for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7) who were beaten narrowly in Week 16 and have lost control of their own destiny.
Baker Mayfield and company need to win out and hope the Atlanta Falcons fail to win one of their remaining two games and there will be a confidence around Tampa Bay that the chips may fall their way and earn the NFC South team a home Playoff game in two weeks time.
Overlooking the Panthers would be a mistake, but Tampa Bay have to be confident they can move the ball with some consistency at home.
Teams have been able to dominate the Carolina Defensive Line in recent games and Bucky Irving may have a big game for the Buccaneers, whose own Offensive Line have been very happy to get their hands dirty in the run blocking game. The expectation is that the Buccaneers will be in third and manageable spots through much of the afternoon and this should open things up for Baker Mayfield and some of his skilled Receiving options.
Being in front of the chains just slows the pass rush pressure, while the Panthers have stronger Secondary numbers merely because teams have not needed to throw against them while the Defensive Line have struggled. This Buccaneers team have shown how good they can be Offensively during a four game winning run before losing to Dallas and Tampa Bay will believe they cover the spread through their Offensive firepower.
Scoring points is obviously important to any cover of a spread mark, but the Buccaneers do look like a team that will match up with the Panthers very well on the other side of the ball.
Even without Chuba Hubbard in the lineup, the Panthers would love to run the ball but that has been a challenge against this powerful Tampa Bay Defensive Line. With their top Running Back it would have been tough to establish the run and it feels like a game in which all of the pressure will be on Bryce Young at Quarter Back.
He can make some plays with his legs, but it will be really difficult to find any consistency Offensively if the Panthers are always behind the chains. Bryce Young will be under some duress from the Tampa Bay pass rush, while the Buccaneers Secondary have been in decent form as the regular season has wound down and this gives the home team a considerable edge.
Last week the Panthers showed they are still dangerous, but Tampa Bay are coming into this one behind a loss and will be automatically more focused in trying to keep their Playoff hopes alive. With the match up on both sides of the ball, this has the makings of a solid Tampa Bay win in the early Sunday kickoff slot and they can cover a big line with some huge play made on the Defensive side of the ball.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite.
The Pick :
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-17 Carolina Panthers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 8 Points at -120 with Bovada
