NFL Week 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers Sunday 6pm Game Preview, Fantasy, and Betting
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to rebound from the humiliating loss to the Saints last week against another in division rival in the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are on a 4-game losing streak but that isn’t a fair reflection on how they’ve been playing recently, and they won’t be in any mood to give the Buccs an easy win. Can Tampa get themselves back on track or will their playoff hopes suffer another set-back at the hands of Matt Rhule’s side?
PP Betting:
Money line: Buccaneers 2/5 Panthers 2/1
Points Spread: Buccaneers -5.5
Over/Under: 49.5
I don’t see this as a 5 point game to be honest. The Panthers have been playing better than their record has shown and I don’t think big wins are too far away. This could be the start. 2/1 is a really good return for them in my opinion, even with C-Mc out.
Fantasy Football:
Buccaneers:
Tom Brady is the 8th ranked Fantasy QB averaging over 20 points per game. However, before last week, when he finished with minus points, his lowest scoring game on the season was in week 2 versus, you guessed it, the Carolina Panthers.
One of the stand out stats in that loss last week was the number of times Tampa Bay ran the ball. 4 times. In the whole game. For a total of 9 yards. They will have to have a much more balanced game plan this week to avoid a 2nd straight beating. But don’t expect either Ronald Jones or Leonard Fournette to rack up a big carry count. I would consider both risky but if in need of an RB2 both are capable of making plays.
The weapons Tom Brady has at his disposal on the outside have been well documented. Evans and Godwin may be the best WR tandem in the NFL and Scotty Miller has earned the trust of the former Patriots leader. Of course, his old sidekick from Foxboro Rob Gronkowski has joined him in Florida. And if that wasn’t enough, the enigmatic, but highly talented, Antonio Brown is now part of the mix too. Evans most likely to pick up points for owners but any one of these guys are a threat if given the opportunity. Gronkowski in particular has seen an upward trend in output, putting up double figures in 3 consecutive weeks before the Saints game.
Despite the defense being taken apart by Drew Brees and the Saints offense, the Tampa Bay defense still ranks in the top 5 in the league in fantasy. They hauled in 30 points in week 2 against Carolina, their 3rd best performance of the season and will likely come into this game having a point to prove.
Panthers:
Carolina recruited Teddy Bridgewater to take over at QB in the off-season and he has been a fairly reliable hand under center. Unfortunately, one of the teams he wasn’t at his best against was the Buccaneers, who and recorded 5 sacks and 2 interceptions in the game earlier in the season. With a few more weeks getting to know Matt Rhule’s offense, don’t expect a similar stat line but Bridgewater faces a tough task to get much out of one of the NFL’s better defences.
The big news this week for Carolina is that star Running Back Christian McCaffrey’s much anticipated return from injury only lasted a week as he is again side-lined. Like last time, Mike Davis will step into his role, which he did to a very respectable level thus far. Tampa come armed with a nasty defensive front and he has his work cut out for him this week.
Like Tampa Bay, the Panthers have an excellent receiving corps, led by DJ Moore. While he has only 1 100-yard game this year, it was in the week 2 clash between these teams. He is joined by Curtis Samuel and Robbie Anderson leaving Carolina with 3 of the top 30 fantasy receivers.
My Prediction:
I don’t expect Tampa Bay to be anywhere near as bad as they were in the New Orleans game. On the road against a rival in the division again isn’t ideal when you are looking for redemption and, no doubt, Carolina will come at them all guns blazing. I think this could be an excellent game and could come down to the wire. I’m edging it to the home side.
Panthers by 3
