Tampa Bay at Carolina Week 5 Betting Prediction

If you haven’t hit the panic button on the Carolina Panthers, it’s about time you do so. I mean, this is a team that lost a total of two games in the whole of 2015 (regular season + playoffs) and blew out pretty much everyone en route to an appearance in Super Bowl 50, but has now lost three of its four games at the start of the 2016 season, including two straight losses in the last two games. The Panthers might get some break, though, as they will be going against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that hasn’t beaten Carolina since 2012 and is having struggles of its own this season. Will the Panthers continue to own the Bucs, or will Tampa Bay add to Carolina’s woes with an upset in this Monday Night NFL betting action? Find a complete NFL odds preview of this game prepared for you below.

Tampa Bay at Carolina Week 5 Betting Prediction & TV Info

Monday Night business attire!#TBvsCAR #SiegetheDay pic.twitter.com/qXWphXFgxc

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) October 8, 2016

When: Monday, October 10, 2016, 8:30 pm. Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina TV: ESPN Radio: Tampa Bay / Carolina Stream Option: NFL Live b: Carolina (-4.5), OVER/UNDER 44

Why Bet on Tampa Bay? (1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS)

Since upsetting the Falcons in Week 1, the Buccaneers have lost three straight games, the last of those defeats coming at the hands of Denver last week. Jameis Winston and his offense couldn’t cope with the Broncos’ very disciplined defense. That shouldn’t be the case, though, on Mondays the Bucs will be facing an embattled Carolina defense that is sure to allow some spaces for Winston and Co. to exploit. All that won’t matter, though, unless Tampa Bay’s defense (32 PPG allowed, #31 in the NFL) patches up its holes, especially in the passing game.

Why Bet on Carolina? (1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS)

So, the Panthers are coming off their worst defensive performance in franchise history, giving up 500-plus passing yards to Matt Ryan (including a mind-boggling 300 receiving yards to wide receiver Julio Jones), as the Falcons eased to a dominant 48-33 win over Carolina. Meanwhile, starting quarterback Cam Newton is injured and is a doubt to start on Monday vs. Tampa. Too many problems to hope for much on Monday, we agree. But it’s not all a bust for the Panthers, as they’ve swept the Buccaneers in each of their last three seasons (2013, 2014 and 2015), so they can take confidence in that. And in the absence of Newton, Derek Anderson– who’s beaten Tampa Bay twice– is a serviceable replacement at quarterback, especially against a TB defense that is coughing up too many points. Therefore, even if Carolina’s defense will continue to struggle, there should be more than enough offensive talent to lift the Panthers to a win on Monday Night.

Expert NFL Picks and Predictions

Whether or not Newton suits up for this game, Carolina should claim the win here. Winston is a turnover machine, Tampa Bay’s running offense is a mess with key injuries to Doug Martin and Charles Sims, and the Bucs’ recent history against Carolina has nothing to suggest their capacity to pull a surprise here. Combine that with the fact that Carolina has reshuffled pieces in its defense (releasing Bene’ Benwikere and all) so is likely to play relatively better than it has done so far in the season, the Panthers should be able to offer some solid value for the win plus the cheap points on Monday. Score Prediction: Carolina 28, Tampa Bay 18 Writer’s Pick: Carolina (-4.5), OVER 44