Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 1/9/2022

by Chuck Sommers

Thursday, Jan 06, 2022
Game time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Where to watch: CBS

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks


DraftKings: Buccaneers -8; O/U 41.5; Buccaneers -380, Panthers +290
BetMGM: Buccaneers -7.5; O/U 41.5; Buccaneers -385, Panthers +300
Caesars: Buccaneers -8; O/U 41.5; Buccaneers -385, Panthers +300

Season record
Panthers: 5-11 (Last place, NFC South)
Buccaneers: 12-4 (Clinched NFC South)

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Panthers - Buccaneers preview and analysis


Last week
Panthers: lost 18-10 at Saints
Buccaneers: won 28-24 at Jets

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will get the chance to defend their Super Bowl title after all. The road to the Super Bowl will go through Green Bay for the second straight season, but the Bucs will have a home playoff game for the first time in forever.

Before they get to that point, the Bucs will wrap up the regular season against the Carolina Panthers with the No. 2 seed still very much in reach with a victory and a Los Angeles Rams loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Tampa Bay nearly had a major slip-up last week at the New York Jets, but it wouldn't be a Tom Brady game without tormenting the Jets just one more time. Brady, the league leader in yards, attempts and passing touchdowns, put on one more MVP-like performance by throwing for 410 yards and three touchdowns to put the ageless wonder 10 yards from another 5,000-yard season.

Normally we would be talking about the events that led to Brady winning the game; like another game-winning 93-yard drive that led to the winning score and how the Bucs will be hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2007.

Instead, the biggest story coming out of that game was one who didn't finish it, and that was Antonio Brown. The wide receiver infamously stripped himself down to his pants and cleats and left MetLife Stadium to never play for Tampa again.

"It's a difficult situation," Brady said. "Everybody should do what they can to help him in ways that he really needs it. We all love him. We care about him deeply. We want to see him be at his best. Unfortunately, it won't be with our team. ... I think everyone should be very compassionate and empathetic toward some very difficult things that are happening."

You look at everything that transpired with Brown between violating the league's COVID protocol system to already coming to Tampa on thin ice because of attitude problems with three teams prior, you just had to think it was a matter of time.

But as Bruce Arians has said, it's about the guys on the team now. Mike Evans became the fifth receiver ever with 12 receiving touchdowns in four of his first eight seasons and needs 44 yards for an eighth straight 1,000-yard season, which not many receivers can say they've done that through their first eight seasons in the league.

Those milestones seem fairly in reach with Tampa Bay taking on the Panthers for the second time in three weeks; the Bucs defeated the Panthers 32-6 in North Carolina back in Week 16 on Dec. 26.

Carolina has lost six in a row since that 34-10 win at the Arizona Cardinals that was the coronation of Cam Newton's return. Since then, Carolina has not won and the Panthers have gone back to Sam Darnold. Last year's trade acquisition threw for 132 yards in last week's loss to the New Orleans Saints.

"Bottom line is just everyone's not playing good enough," Darnold said. "Everyone on offense — we're just not playing good enough to win games. I think that's as simple as it is."

One of those bright spots is receiver DJ Moore, who is one of three receivers -- joining Tyler Lockett and Stefon Diggs -- to have 1,000 yards in each of the past three seasons. The former first-round pick had five receptions for 55 yards in the Week 16 match, but had eight catches for 120 yards the last time he played in Raymond James Stadium.

That chemistry between Darnold and Moore needs to be rekindled if there's any chance for the Panthers to win, but man, it's going to be tough knowing the Bucs still have something important to play for.

Prediction


It's so much easier to think the Bucs would rest everyone and let the Panthers escape with a moral victory. The problem with that logic is Tampa could rest everyone and still beat the Panthers because the road team is not that good right now. Brady and the champs want to get into the playoffs with momentum, and I can see this game being over by halftime with an easy cover. Buccaneers by 17

Betting trends


The Panthers are 0-6 ATS during their losing streak.

The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings, while the Panthers are 1-5 ATS in the last six.

The under is 4-0 in Tampa Bay's last four games following an ATS loss.

The Buccaneers are 5-1 ATS in their last six as a home favorite.

Statistical leaders


Panthers:
Passing: Sam Darnold -- 2,3008 yards, 7 TD, 12 INT
Rushing: Chuba Hubbard -- 564 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: DJ Moore -- 1,070 yards, 4 TD
Defense: Haason Reddick -- 11 sacks

Buccaneers:
Passing: Tom Brady -- 4,990 yards, 40 TD, 12 INT
Rushing: Ronald Jones -- 428 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Mike Evans -- 946 yards, 12 TD
Defense: Shaquil Barrett -- 10 sacks

Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Carolina Panthers - Tampa Bay Buccaneers prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily NFL projections and previews.

Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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