Panthers vs. Buccaneers Predictions & Opening Odds for NFC South Showdown | NFL Week 18

It's a winner-takes-all matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Week 18, and my Panthers vs. Buccaneers predictions back the underdogs to keep it close on the road. 

The Buccaneers are early 3 or 3.5-point betting favorite despite their 1-6 home ATS record. The Panthers, meanwhile, are 3-2 straight up in their previous five road games. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC). 

🏈 Early Panthers vs. Buccaneers prediction

See the latest NFL odds and our experts' NFL picks for every game this season.

Panthers +3.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐

It's hard to get behind a Buccaneers team that is 1-7 in its last eight games, with a 1-3 mark at home and a 0-3 record versus NFC South opponents in that sample size.  

Only the 1-7 Arizona Cardinals (1-7) have a more putrid home ATS record than the Buccaneers' 1-6 mark. 

While the Panthers don't instill a ton of confidence either, they've been the better team for over two months, alternating wins and losses in the last 10 games. They beat the Buccaneers 23-20 in Week 16 and are 4-4 ATS on the road. 

There is a chance the Buccaneers can overcome their recent malaise in a one-off for all the marbles, but I'm betting on the more confident and defensively resilient visitors.

📊 Live Panthers vs. Buccaneers odds: Week 18 

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Panthers vs. Buccaneers opening odds

• Moneyline: Panthers +150 | Buccaneers -180
• Spread: Panthers +3.5 (-115) | Buccaneers -3.5 (-105)
• Over/Under: Over 44.5 (-110) | Under 44.5 (-110)

Panthers vs. Buccaneers line movement

While the odds for this game were just released, the majority of the best sports betting sites have the Buccaneers as the 3-point betting favorite. DraftKings and bet365 have the Buccaneers at -3.5. The odds for the Panthers at +3.5 are between -115 and -120, which indicates both sportsbooks will likely soon move to +/- 3. 

That's why I'm backing the Panthers at +3.5 before the line moves. 

📈 Panthers vs. Buccaneers trends & betting notes: Week 18

• The Buccaneers have the second-worst home ATS record (1-6)
• Carolina is 9-7 ATS
• Tampa Bay is 5-11 ATS, the NFL's worst mark
• Carolina allowed more than 20 points twice in the previous five games, which occurred against NFC West juggernauts Los Angeles and Seattle
• Tampa Bay hasn't won by more than 3 points since its Week 8 victory over the New Orleans Saints

📺 How to watch Panthers vs. Buccaneers

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 3
• Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
• TV: ESPN/ABC