The NFC South will be up for grabs in Monday night football betting, as online sportsbook players will be forced to pick against a 9-3 team. Carolina will host Tampa Bay at Bank of America Stadium, and Buccaneers vs Panthers odds are siding with Carolina to remain undefeated at home.
Tampa Bay (9-3) and its No. 4 defense held the best offense in the NFL to 332 yards and three turnovers, as the Buccaneers edged New Orleans 23-20 at home, sealed by a 37-yard Matt Bryant field goal with 1:55 left on the clock.
Jeff Garcia didn’t have great numbers, going 9-of-23 for 119 yards and a touchdown, but he added 42 yards on the ground and protected the football, a staple of Jon Gruden’s offenses. But the defense was the star of the show, as Tampa Bay never allowed New Orleans pivot Drew Brees to get comfortable, picking him off twice in the late minutes to give the offense a chance for the game-winning points.
The Panthers (9-3) got four rushing touchdowns from DeAngelo Williams, and a couple of big plays from Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith to escape Green Bay with a 35-31 victory over the Packers.
A quick start was essential for Carolina, which jumped out to a 21-10 halftime lead after struggling in the first half all season long. Delhomme was 12-of-17 for 177 yards and no touchdowns but, like Garcia and Tampa Bay, he didn’t turn the ball over. The Panthers were also disciplined, committing only two penalties for 12 yards while the Packers had eight penalties for 49 yards.
The Buccaneers vs Panthers line lists Carolina as a 3.5-point NFL betting favorite at home, and the Panthers have won seven of their last 10 over the Buccaneers. However, two of the last three have gone Tampa Bay’s way, including a 27-3 rout at home in Week 6. Delhomme was picked off three times in that game, and the Panthers were outgained 142-40 on the ground.
STAN’S PICK: While Carolina is still unbeaten at home, Tampa Bay has never been afraid of Bank of America Stadium, splitting its past eight trips with the Panthers. The Bucs’ “D” will be the difference, so bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a slight Monday night football betting upset on the road, putting them in pole position for the NFC South.
For more Buccaneers vs Panthers betting analysis, bookmark the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.
Stan
Simmons first tasted football through the college game, but his football handicapping
has strictly focused on the professional sport. Not many people devote as much
time to the NFL as Simmons. For six days a week he works, labors and handicaps
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