Carolina Panthers (1-7 SU, 2-6 ATS) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3 SU, 5-3 ATS), Week 10 NFL, 1:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, November 14, 2010, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. TV: FOX
by Ryno of Predictem.com
Betting Odds: Car +6.5/TB -6.5
Over/Under Total: 36.5
Two teams headed in opposite directions will face off on Sunday. The Carolina Panthers are among the worst teams in the NFL with a 1-7 record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a huge surprise with a 5-3 record, competing for first place in the NFC South division. If the Bucs really do want to win the division and make the playoffs, they have to win a game like this at home against a lowly division rival.
The Panthers started off 0-5 before getting a win over the 49ers after their bye week. They have scored 18 or less points in each of the seven losses. They’ve given up 20 or more points in all but one game. Injuries have killed the Panthers this season. Running back DeAngelo Williams has missed the last two games. Starting quarterback Matt Moore is now out for the season. Rookie Jimmy Clausen is now the team’s QB and Jonathan Stewart has to fill in at RB. Star WR Steve Smith was out for a few games and is now back. But the Panthers are depleted and don’t have much hope for the rest of the season.
On Sunday, the Panthers lost 34-3 to the Saints. Three Panthers QBs combined to go 17-for-36 passing for 107 yards and an interception. Smith had just one catch for nine yards. Stewart had five carries for 30 yards. As a team, the Panthers totaled 127 rushing yards on 24 carries. They allowed 165 rushing yards and 253 passing yards.
The Bucs haven’t beaten any great teams but they are taking care of business against the teams they can beat. Wins over the Browns, Cardinals, Rams and Panthers aren’t too impressive but the Panthers and Cardinals wins were on the road. Their most impressive win was a 24-21 win at the Bengals, a team that looks great on paper but is really struggling this season. The Bucs’ only losses have come to the Steelers, Saints and Falcons, three teams who all look like they are headed towards the playoffs.
In their most recent loss, 27-21 at the Falcons, the Bucs held their own but came up just short. Bucs QB Josh Freeman was 11-for-22 passing for 189 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. RB LeGarrette Blount ran the ball 13 times for 46 yards. WR Mike Williams led the team in receiving with four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs allowed Falcons RB Michael Turner to run for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Falcons QB Matt Ryan was 24-for-36 passing for 235 yards and a touchdown. The Bucs had two turnovers and didn’t force any turnovers.
For the season, Freeman has 1,722 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Williams leads the team in receiving with 36 catches for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Blount took over the starting RB job from Cadillac Williams two games ago. Combined, the two RBs have 493 rushing yards and three touchdowns (Blount has all three TDs).
The Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven Week 10 games, 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. teams with a winning record, and 2-6 ATS in their last eight games overall. The Bucs are 4-1 ATS in their last five November games, 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a favorite, 1-4 ATS in their last five games as a home favorite, 3-14 ATS in their last 17 home games, and 0-7 ATS in their last seven home games vs. teams with a losing road record. The under is 5-0 in the Panthers’ last five games vs. NFC South opponents, 5-0 in their last five games vs. teams with a winning record, 6-1 in their last seven games overall, 5-1 in their last six games vs. the NFC, 4-1 in their last five November games, and 4-1 in their last five games as an underdog.
The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams in Tampa Bay. The favorite is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings between these teams. The Panthers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games in Tampa Bay and 13-6 ATS in their last 19 games against the Bucs overall.
Ryno’s Pick to Cover the Point Spread: Look for the Bucs to blow out the Panthers bigtime, like 45-7!
