The first Thursday night game of the 2019 NFL season as an utter snoozer offensively as Green Bay upset Chicago 10-3. We are quite confident there will be more than 13 points scored this Thursday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit NFC South rival Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are nearly a TD favorites on the latest NFL odds.
How to Bet Buccaneers vs Panthers NFL Week 2 Odds & Game Info
- When: Thursday, 8:20 PM ET
- Where: Bank of America Stadium
- TV: NFL Network
- Radio: SiriusXM/NFL
- Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
- NFL Week 2 Odds: Carolina Panthers -6.5 (Total 50)
Colts vs Titans 2019 NFL Week 2 Spread, Betting Analysis & Pick
Last Season
These teams split, each winning at home. Bucs starting quarterback Jameis Winston didn’t play the one in Charlotte because he was struggling and Carolina was a 42-28 winner. Cam Newton completed 19 of 25 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns, running back Christian McCaffrey racked up 157 total yards and scored twice and wide receiver Curtis Samuel scored on a 33-yard double reverse and hauled in a 19-yard TD catch midway through the fourth quarter to clinch it.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who started in place of Winston, finished with 243 yards passing and four touchdowns — two each to Adam Humphries and O.J. Howard.
The Buccaneers and Panthers meet for the 38th time with Carolina holding the all-time series advantage at 23-14.
Weather Forecast
- Partly Cloudy: 22°C/71°F
- Humidity: 71%
- Precipitation: 20%
- Cloud Cover: 23%
- Wind: 4 mph S
- Stadium Type: Open
Why Bet on Carolina?
The Panthers were 30-27 Week 1 losers to the Rams. Christian McCaffrey had 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 10 receptions for 81 yards, in the Panthers’ Week 1 loss. McCaffrey, who also had 125 rushing yards and 11 receptions in Week 12 of the 2018 season, is the first player in the Super Bowl era to record at least 120 rushing yards and 10 receptions in multiple games.
Cam Newton completed 25-of-38 passes for 239 yards and one interception in the loss. Newton had plenty of arm strength early, but he was inaccurate and was limited to three carries for negative two yards rushing. If not for McCaffrey and his 209 total yards and two touchdowns, this game would’ve been a lot worse.
Two starters, rookie offensive tackle Greg Little (concussion) and defensive end Bruce Irvin were inactive for Week 1. Little is “making good progress” but he’s been in the concussion protocol for more than two weeks now.
In 13 career games against Tampa Bay, Newton has 29 total touchdowns (20 passing, nine rushing), his most against any opponent. Panthers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy spent nine seasons (2010-2018) with Tampa Bay and totaled 54.5 sacks, the third-most in franchise history.
Team Stats (Last 10 Games)
- Score: 24.20
- Rush Yards: 130.40
- Pass Attempts: 30.70
- Completion Percentage: 64.50
- Passing Yards: 213.90
- Total Yards: 344.30
- Turnovers: 1.70
Cardinals vs Ravens 2019 NFL Week 2 Odds, Preview and Pick
Buccaneers vs Panthers 2019 NFL Week 2 Betting Trends
- Buccaneers are 0-7 SU in their last 7 games on the road
- Buccaneers are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 games played in September
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games against an opponent in the NFC conference
- Panthers are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home
- Panthers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games when playing as the favorite
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Carolina’s last 5 games played on a Thursday
Why Bet on Tampa Bay?
The Bucs were 31-17 losers at home to San Francisco in Week 1. It’s a make or break year for former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston and he wasn’t good. Winston completed 20-of-36 passes for 194 yards, one touchdown, and three picks – two picks returned for touchdowns.
It was Winston’s 17th career game with multiple interceptions, passing Blake Bortles for most in the league since Winston entered the NFL in 2015. This is also a Niners squad that had a total of two picks in 2018 — the fewest of any defense in NFL history. Winston also becomes just the third player with multiple pick-sixes in a season opener in the last 15 seasons, along with Joey Harrington (2007) and Scott Tolzien (2017). Winston was nearly picked off a fourth time by Kwon Alexander, but it was dropped.
When the Bucs were able to move the ball and sustain drives, they were slapped with penalties, wiping out, not one, but two Cameron Brate touchdowns on the same drive. Mike Evans caught just 2-of-5 targets for 28 yards. In 2018, Evans, who holds the franchise records for receiving yards (6,131) and touchdown catches (40), joined A.J. Green & Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first five seasons. Chris Godwin caught three of his team-high six targets for 53 yards and one score.
On the bright side, 2018 second-round pick Ronald Jones rushed 13 times for 75 yards. And the Tampa defense played well. The Bucs’ shift to a more aggressive, attacking defense under Todd Bowles looks to already be paying off, even when put into unfavorable positions by the offense.
Team Stats (Last 10 Games)
- Score: 17.20
- Rush Yards: 102.40
- Pass Attempts: 35.40
- Completion Percentage: 60.45
- Passing Yards: 222.60
- Total Yards: 325.00
- Turnovers: 2.50
Expert Final Score Prediction for Buccaneers vs Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 – Carolina Panthers 27
