New Orleans vs. Carolina NFL Football Spread/Handicapping
Here we go again. A couple of weeks ago these teams were tied atop the NFC South heading into a tilt in New Orleans, won rather easily by the Saints.
Here we go again. A couple of weeks ago these teams were tied atop the NFC South heading into a tilt in New Orleans, won rather easily by the Saints.
A stingy Carolina defensive unit will look to help its team get back on the rails after its eight-game winning streak was snapped by New Orleans last week.
The Carolina Panthers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a game that means a whole lot to both sides.
The Carolina Panthers won again on Monday Night Football coming from behind and then holding off New England on the final drive.
Red Hot Panthers Look to Keep the Roll Going – Host Patriots Monday Night
The Carolina Panthers, winner of five straight games head back home this week looking to take another step toward a possible playoff run this year.
Who would have thought that after a 1-3 start, the Carolina Panthers would be battling it out for the top spot in the NFC South.
The Carolina Panthers have been white-hot of late, cruising to three consecutive wins, and now look to beat up on a division foe with the Atlanta Falcons coming to town fresh off their bye week.
Bucs Look For Win #1 Thursday Night – Host Surging Panthers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a sexy sleeper pick before the season started in the NFC but things haven’t gone exactly as planned.
The Rams caused a stir last week when they dominated the Houston Texans. All offseason long they have been saying they were a team on the come but prior to that we really hadn’t seen it and I am still not sure this team has the potential to be good.
***(Write-up assumes…AP plays —- with the terrible news we’ve learned Friday)
Both of these teams have struggled so far this season, especially Minnesota who made the playoffs last year and has been totally flat all season long. The trouble has been at the quarterback spot which is why they acquired Josh Freeman after he was jettisoned by the Bucs…anything is an improvement over Christian Ponder.
Both teams are eliminated but have something to play for. The Saints can make it to .500 a nice accomplishment for this regular season while Carolina seeks to continue to progress and finish strong.
Little going on in this matchup other than wondering whether Chargers coach can survive the season. Last week’s win provide a stay of execution but a loss to the visiting Panthers might be too hard to ignore.
The top and bottom of the NFC South square off in Carolina. Could be a letdown situation for the Falcons who got the Saints monkey off their back in Prime Time last Thursday night.
]Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-4) vs Carolina Panthers (2-7)
Sunday November 18
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
1:00PM
Moneyline: Off From GTBets.eu
Spread: Pick em
O/U: 48.5
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight! | Buy Ray’s Picks!
Tampa
The Buccaneers won again last week. That makes three in a row and 4 of their last 5. Due to this roll they enter Carolina as the slight favourite. To illustrate how things have changed throughout the course of the season Tampa was a 3 point dog to Carolina in the opener at home. Both of these teams were expected to improve this year but it has been Tampa that has taken the greater step forward.
Tampa may have won the last three, all by double digit margins, but this team is certainly no powerhouse. The game against San Diego could have gone either way until the Bucs opportunistic defense had a pick 6 to salt it away. This team is 3rd in the league in scoring despite being just above average in yards gained. They are also 30th in yards allowed but yet a respectable 18th in points against. At some point you would expect that something has got to give.
Tampa is 7-2 ATS this season including a perfect 4-0 as the visitors. This team is still a tough one to get a read on but there is enough talent to continue their winning ways against a team like Carolina that is already beginning to think about next season. It is hard not to like the Bucs in a situation where all they have to do is win the game.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Carolina
Carolina got dumped last week by Denver unable to maintain any of the momentum from their win the week before against Washington. Its another lost season in Charlotte and it appears many are beginning to tire of the look at me antics of franchise face Cam Newton. This team has been dismal at home with 1-4 SU and ATS records. It is hard to find any real reason to get behind them this season after they were solid moneymakers last year.
If Cam is losing the team that is one thing but the other that is plainly clear is that the Panthers can’t afford to lose him. Newton is the top passer and rusher on a team struggling for point production. They prefer to move the ball on the ground but the Bucs are among league leaders in slowing down ground attacks so it may be on Newton to find a way to move the ball through the air. He will definitely have to be sharp to avoid the turnovers that killed San Diego last week.
Tampa seems to be able to frustrate teams while Carolina seems easily frustrated – that does not make for a great outcome for the Panthers. Another thing going against Carolina is that in each of the last three season one team has swept the other – Tampa took the first one this season. In fact they seem to be alternating that trend and it is Tampa’s turn to take two.
Spread Pick: Tampa Bay -1
O/U Pick: Under
Score Prediction: Tampa Bay 23 – Carolina 17
The Dnever Broncos are looking to use this week to build some breathing space in the AFC West. At 5-3 they are well positioned as the rest of their schedule is pretty soft except for a visit to Baltimore.
Carolina nearly pulled off a great victory against Chicago last weekend,,,choking it away in the second half. Still it was another step in the right direction. The Panthers have lost 5 in a row but the last 4 have been by a combined 12 points.