| MATCHUP | Carolina Panthers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 8-9 | 8-9 |
| Where | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL | |
| When | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | |
| Time | 04:30 PM EST | |
| TV | ABC | |
The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet Saturday in NFL action at Raymond James Stadium. Here’s a Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction. This article will include a Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick.
Carolina Panthers Betting Preview
The Carolina Panthers lost to the Seahawks and beat the Buccaneers. The Carolina Panthers have split their last 10 games. Bryce Young is completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,745 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Cooker have combined for 1,076 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, while Xavier Legette has 32 receptions.
The Carolina Panthers ground game is averaging 122.4 yards per contest, and Rico Dowdle leads the way with 1,066 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively, Carolina is allowing 22.8 points and 326.6 yards per game. Christian Rozeboom leads the Carolina Panthers with 114 tackles, Derrick Brown has 5 sacks and Jaycee Horn has 5 interceptions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Preview
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Panthers and Dolphins. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lost 4 straight games. Baker Mayfield is completing 62.8 percent of his passes for 3,490 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Cade Otton and Emeka Egbuka have combined for 1,408 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns, while Sterling Shepard has 39 receptions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ground game is averaging 112.9 yards per contest, and Rachaad White leads the way with 549 yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensively, Tampa Bay is allowing 24.8 points and 340.5 yards per game. Lavonte David leads the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 108 tackles, Yaya Diaby has 7 sacks and Jamel Dean has 3 interceptions.
Why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win
- The Panthers have lost each of their last six games at Raymond James Stadium.
- The Buccaneers have won seven of their last eight January games against NFC South opponents.
- The Panthers have failed to cover the spread in seven of their last eight road games without Jaycee Horn.
- The Buccaneers have covered the spread in four of their last five home games against the Panthers.
- The Buccaneers have won the first half in each of their last five games as home favorites following a road loss.
- The Panthers have lost the first quarter in three of their last four games at Raymond James Stadium following a loss.
Why the Carolina Panthers will win
- The Panthers have won eight of their last nine games as underdogs following a loss.
- The Buccaneers have lost each of their last four games played as favorites on the East Coast.
- The Panthers have covered the spread in each of their last nine games following a loss.
- The Buccaneers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last seven games played on the East Coast.
- The Panthers have won the first half in each of their last two games as slight underdogs (<+3.5 points).
Total Points Facts
- Each of the Panthers’ last six games as underdogs without Chuba Hubbard have gone OVER the total points line.
- Each of the last five games between the Panthers and Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Player Prop Facts
- Sean Tucker has scored a touchdown in each of the Buccaneers’ last four games as favorites against NFC South opponents.
- Jalen McMillan has recorded 35+ receiving yards in each of his last seven appearances in Florida.
- Rachaad White has recorded 19+ rushing yards in 29 of his last 32 appearances following a loss.
- Chris Godwin has recorded 42+ rushing and receiving yards in 17 of his last 18 appearances with the Buccaneers as favorites following a road loss.
- Emeka Egbuka has 445 receiving yards through his first five career games – most by any player since Puka Nacua, (2023).
Carolina Panthers Player Prop Facts
- Tetairoa McMillan has scored at least one touchdown in four of the Panthers’ last five games as underdogs against NFC opponents.
- Chuba Hubbard has recorded 56+ rushing and receiving yards in each of his six previous appearances with the Panthers as underdogs in Florida.
- Bryce Young has recorded 203+ passing yards in three of the Panthers’ last four road games against NFC South opponents.
- Bryce Young has recorded 20+ rushing yards in each of the Panthers’ last four games against NFC opponents.
- Xavier Legette has recorded 22+ receiving yards in seven of the Panthers’ last eight road games against NFC opponents.
- Heading into Week 18, Mike Jackson ranks 1st in the league for passes defensed (19) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Buccaneers – five different players have recorded 100+ receiving yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 18.
- Buccaneers – seven different players have recorded 70+ receiving yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 18.
- Heading into Week 18, the Panthers are the only team to overturn multiple 14+ point 2nd quarter deficits to win this season.
- Heading into Week 18, the Panthers have recorded the equal-most wins by a margin of three points or less this season (6).
Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction
On paper, the Buccaneers are the better team, and they’ve won 8 of the last 10 games against the Panthers. They should be favored. However, the Bucs have lost 4 straight games and 7 of their last 8 games. Just two months ago, the Bucs looked like a contender in the NFC. Now they look like a team that’s given up and is ready for the offseason. Mayfield doesn’t look healthy and the Bucs aren’t finishing drives.
The Buccaneers’ defense has also underachieved. Yes, the Panthers have issues of their own, mainly offensively. The Panthers have scored 10 or fewer points in 4 of their last 9 games. Still, somebody has to win and in a battle of two mediocre teams, I’d grab the points and wish for the best.