Buccaneers vs Panthers Odds: Who Is Favored To Win?
With the game in Tampa Bay, the Bucs are 3-point favorites heading into Week 18's game.
| Panthers | +3 | O 43.5 -115 | +130 |
| Buccaneers | -3 | U 43.5 -105 | -155 |
It’s a game with huge implications, with the division title and a playoff spot on the line. The 8-8 Panthers will head to Tampa Bay to face the 7-9 Bucs on January 3. To keep their season alive, Tampa Bay needs a win, but a victory alone isn’t enough. They’ll also need the 6-10 Saints to upset the 7-9 Falcons on the road. If the Bucs win and the Saints pull off the upset, Tampa Bay will claim their fifth consecutive division title and a playoff berth.
🗣️ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Chances
Latest Buccaneers vs Panthers Odds, Updates, & News
Both the Bucs and Panthers look vastly different this season compared to last. Carolina is building for the future behind Bryce Young and leading the division, while Tampa Bay is focused on staying consistent and limiting turnovers. Latest news impacting the Bucs and Panthers:
- December 21: Carolina defeats Tampa Bay at home in Week 16.
- December 17: The Panthers designate WR David Moore to return from injured reserve.
- December 15: The Buccaneers place Zyon McCollum on injured reserve and sign LB Anthony Walker Jr. off Indianapolis' practice squad.
- December 10: Tampa Bay activates WRs Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan from injured reserve.
- November 16: Young sets a franchise single-game passing record by throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11.
- October 18: Carolina activates WR Jalen Coker and C Austin Corbett from injured reserve. LB Patrick Jones II placed on injured reserve
Buccaneers vs Panthers Spread: What The Spread Tells Us
Ahead of kickoff, the spread lists the Buccaneers as 3-point favorites. To cover the spread, Tampa Bay would need to win by at least four points. This is expected, given that the game is being played in Tampa Bay. The Bucs lost to the Panthers in their previous matchup in Week 16, 23–20. We expect another close game, likely decided by a field goal again.
Buccaneers vs Panthers Line: What The Moneyline Tells Us
The money line for this game lists the Bucs at -155 and the Panthers at +130, giving Tampa Bay a 60.8% implied probability to win, according to oddsmakers. On the flip side, the Panthers have a 43.5% chance of winning. With the division title on the line, this is expected to be one of the most competitive games of the season.
Bucs’ Chances To Win vs Panthers
Even though the Bucs are the current favorites to win, they are on a four-game losing streak and previously lost to the Panthers 23–20 in Week 16. At this point, the outcome is essentially a coin toss. It will all come down to the Bucs capitalizing on their strengths.
How Tampa Bay Beats Carolina
Tampa Bay needs execution from its stars to win at home. Baker Mayfield must connect with Mike Evans and Bucky Irving, while the Bucs lean on their strong run game, Irving and Rachaad White look to attack a Panthers defense giving up 4.6 yards per carry. Home-field advantage helps, but late-game collapses are a concern after losing seven of eight since a 6-2 start. Defensively, stopping Rico Dowdle and containing Bryce Young will be key if Tampa wants the division and a playoff spot.
- Strength: Run Game
- Weakness: Late-Game Collapses
How Carolina Beats Tampa Bay
Carolina needs a complete effort to win on the road and claim the NFC South for the first time since 2017. The defense must disrupt Baker Mayfield and capitalize on Tampa Bay’s red-zone struggles, while Bryce Young looks to get receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker involved early. Rico Dowdle and the Panthers’ elite run game provide balance, but Young’s inconsistent passing, just two games over 206 yards this season, remains a concern.
- Strength: Run Game
- Weakness: Passing Game
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History of Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers Games
The Bucs and Panthers first squared off against the Panthers in Carolina's inaugural season in 1995, a game in which the Bucs won 20-13. They played a few more times, sporadically, until in 2002 they joined the new NFC South, which has had the two teams compete twice a year since. They have yet to meet each other in the playoffs.
Buccaneers Record vs Panthers
The Panthers hold the overall series lead 26-24, in a relatively evenly matched tit-for-tat between the two teams. The Panthers are 14-12 against the Bucs at home in Charlotte, NC, whereas, the Bucs are 12-12 in Tampa against the Panthers.
The largest margin of victory came in 2011, when the Panthers defeated the Bucs 48-16. Starting in 2013, Carolina went on a six-game winning streak against Tampa Bay, lasting until 2016, the longest streak in the series. Carolina has not swept the Bucs since the 2017 season.
All-Time Best Bucs vs Panthers Games
The Panthers and Bucs rivalry began in 2002, when both teams joined the newly formed NFC South, and tensions quickly flared. Carolina has won the division five times, while Tampa Bay has claimed the title seven times, including the last five seasons.
Game 1: September 14, 2003
The Buccaneers, led by quarterback Brad Johnson, statistically should have dominated, throwing for over 300 yards, while the Panthers were held to under 100 passing yards in regulation. Carolina’s strong defense kept Tampa Bay to just three points, leading 9-3, until the final play, when the Bucs scored a touchdown to tie the game at 9-9. Kicker Martin Gramatica, usually reliable, missed the extra point, sending the game to overtime. The Panthers won 12-9 after punt returner Steve Smith returned a punt 52 yards, setting up the game-winning score.
Game 2: November 9, 2003
Just a few weeks later, the Bucs led 20-7 heading into the fourth quarter. The Panthers, led by quarterback Jake Delhomme, rallied to score 17 points in the final frame, earning the nickname “The Cardiac Cats” for their relentless second-half comebacks. Carolina went on to win the division in 2003 and eventually made their only Super Bowl appearance later that season.
Game 3: September 24, 2006
In this infamous game, both teams entered 0-2 and were not expected to perform well. In the third quarter, Bucs quarterback Chris Simms was hit and left the game with a bruised rib. He returned a few minutes later and led the team on a drive that resulted in a field goal to take the lead, despite taking multiple hits during the drive. The Panthers responded with a late field goal to win 26-24. Simms, still in pain, was hospitalized, where doctors discovered a ruptured spleen, an injury that could have been fatal if untreated. This was his final game for the Bucs; he was placed on injured reserve and departed the team the following season.
Buccaneers vs Panthers FAQ
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently 3-point favorites heading into Week 18’s crucial game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on January 3.
You can place bets on the Buccaneers vs Panthers game at any major sportsbook where sports betting is legal. Fans in Florida who want to bet on the game must use the Hard Rock Bet app, the state’s authorized platform for online sports wagering.
The Bucs hold a 24-26 all-time record against the Panthers, going 12-12 at home and 12-14 on the road against their NFC South rival. Their most recent matchup came in Week 16 in Carolina, where Tampa Bay fell to the Panthers.
The next game between the Buccaneers and Panthers will take place on January 3, 2026, during Week 18 of the NFL regular season. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida.
The Carolina Panthers earned a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their first meeting of the 2025–26 season. The Week 16 game took place on December 21 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, with the Bucs falling 23–20.
Author
Dan Thompson is a Lead Betting Analyst for FloridaBet.com. Dan's unique experience makes him the perfect fit to find the latest storylines and interesting betting angles impacting Florida sports betting.
