Can Panthers Upset the Buccaneers in the NFL Week 8 Odds?

Can Panthers Upset the Buccaneers in the NFL Week 8 Odds?

Written by on October 26, 2017

No matter which way you slice it, there are only two clear paths into the NFL postseason. The most desirable path is via winning the division, as this gives you a legitimate shot at a bye in the first week. The Wild Card is the other way to go, and that means playing an extra game and having a much tougher road to the Super Bowl. This week will take us to the halfway point of the season for many teams, which is about the time when we can start to seriously talk about the chances each team in the league has of making the postseason, including the Carolina Panthers, NFL Week 8 Odds underdog, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game will be on Sunday afternoon at Tampa Bay, with neither team really playing good ball right now. Buccaneers are a 2-point home favorite, and the O/U for this one is set at 46. The NFC South is not clear, but the second half will quickly sort things out. Look at the schedule for the second half of the season and you see a lot of divisional match-ups for the 4 teams in the south, and it is those games that will decide who is playing beyond Week 17.

Carolina (4-3) at Tampa Bay (2-4) NFL Week 8 Odds & Preview

  • When: Sunday, October 29 at 1 PM EST
  • Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
  • TV: FOX
  • Radio: 1110 AM (Carolina) / 620 AM (Tampa Bay)
  • Live Stream: NFL Live
  • NFL Week 8 Odds: Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2 (Over/Under at )

Weather Forecast

  • Mostly Cloudy: 20°C/68°F
  • Humidity: 57%
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Cloud Cover: 64%
  • Wind: 18 mph NW
  • Stadium Type: Open

NFL Lines Favor Patriots Over Chargers in Week 8

Recent Head to Head (Last 10 Games)

  • Record: Carolina leads 6-4
  • Score: Carolina 23.30 / Tampa Bay 16.00
  • Rush Yards: Carolina 114.10 / Tampa Bay 110.70
  • Pass Attempts: Carolina 30.50 / Tampa Bay 36.00
  • Completion Percentage: Carolina 64.59 / Tampa Bay 59.17
  • Passing Yards: Carolina 232.40 / Tampa Bay 202.00
  • Total Yards: Carolina 346.5 / Tampa Bay 312.7
  • Turnovers: Carolina 1.60 / Tampa Bay 2.20

Why bet on the Carolina Panthers?

In the early part of his career, the knock on Cam Newton was that he needed to grow up a little in order to be a really good NFL QB. He managed to do that, taking his team to the Super Bowl a couple of years back, but since then, he has reverted to the pouty, sensitive player that he was in the early part of his career. Press conferences have become a bit of a disaster, and his play on the feel seems to be a reflection of his mood. It is certainly not fair to heap all of the Panthers troubles on Newton, though, as there is plenty of blame to go around. Carolina is 4-3 on the season and still very much in the division hunt, but consistency has been an issue. There is a lot of talent on this team, and nothing to stop them having a strong second half. The Panthers are a team that seems to do better on the road, going 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games. They are 6-4 SU versus Tampa Bay in their last 10 meetings.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Average Score For: 18.71
  • Total Yards: 319.15
  • Rush Yards: 97.29
  • Passing Yards: 221.86
Defense
  • Average Score Against: 19.86
  • Total Yards: 261.85
  • Rush Yards: 81.14
  • Passing Yards: 180.71

Why bet on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Last season was a big one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they saw several of their younger players all come good at the same time. They missed out on the playoffs but made some offseason additions that had everyone believing that they were about to make another step forward this season. To say that the first half of the season has been disappointing is putting things mildly, as they come into this one with a 2-4 record that puts them in the cellar of the NFC South. The Bucs are slight favorite at the NFL Week 8 Odds against the Panthers. They have now lost 3 games in a row and seem unable to put together a cohesive team performance. When the offense is clicking, the defense sucks, and vice versa. The good news for the Bucs is that the division race is tight, and a couple of consecutive wins could get them right back in the thick of it. Tampa Bay is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home, although they are just 4-9 ATS in their last 13 home games, which is why they are slight favorites at the NFL Week 8 Odds.

Team Statistics

Offense
  • Average Score For: 24.17
  • Total Yards: 393.34
  • Rush Yards: 80.67
  • Passing Yards: 312.67
Defense
  • Average Score Against: 25.17
  • Total Yards: 408.5
  • Rush Yards: 113.67
  • Passing Yards: 294.83

Latest NFL Week 8 Betting Trends

  • Panthers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on the road
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina’s last 5 games
  • Panthers are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games when playing Tampa Bay
  • Buccaneers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games
  • Buccaneers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is a tough game to call, as these two seem really evenly matched. I’m giving the slight nod to the Buccaneers as the NFL Week 8 Odds favorite, and like them to win by a Field Goal, with the point total falling just UNDER. Score: Carolina Panthers 21 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24