NFL Week 8 Picks: Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thursday, 10/24/13, 8:25 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Carolina -6.5
Current Betting Line: Carolina -5.5
Opening Total: 38.5
Current Total: 40
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Carolina Panthers are 0-2 SUATS as road favorites of 3.5 to 7 points since 2011

Carolina has won back-to-back games for the first time during the 2013 NFL season, which includes a 30-15 victory over the St. Louis Rams as 7.5-point home favorites Sunday, while going OVER the betting total of 42. The Panthers are trying to move above the .500 mark for the first time in five seasons, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines. “It would be a great boost of confidence to have a winning record,” commented Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. Carolina is 0-2 SUATS as road favorites of 3.5 to 7 points the last two-plus seasons, with both games going OVER the total.

The Panthers have split their four games against the Buccaneers with third-year quarterback Cam Newton under center, as he’s completed 63 percent of his passes and thrown six touchdowns and two interceptions. Carolina needs to get the ball into the hands of running back DeAngelo Williams, as the franchise has compiled an 18-4 record when finishing with 18 or more rushing attempts.

Tampa Bay will try to avoid its second 0-7 start to a season in five years, as it suffered a 31-23 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons as six-point road underdogs in Week 7, while going OVER the betting total for a second consecutive contest. In each of the last four seasons, the two-game series between these rivals have ended in a sweep. The franchise is 11-14 all-time in this matchup, with a 5-7 record when playing at home. Tampa Bay is 7-20 SU and 11-15-1 ATS as underdogs the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 15-11-1 in that situation.

The Buccaneers will likely be led by rookie quarterback Mike Glennon for the fourth time this season, while star running back Doug Martin will likely miss this affair due to a shoulder injury. Glennon finished with a career-high 90.7 rating last week, while Martin accounted for 279 yards from scrimmage in his first two career games against the Panthers. Tampa Bay may find it hard to run the football against Carolina—a team that ranks fourth in the league in allowing just 84.5 rushing yards per game.