NFL Week 1 Predictions: Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered very little resistance to opponents when lining up as a home underdog last year, which will make things difficult for new head coach Greg Schiano in the 2012 regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 9.

The Buccaneers are currently three-point home underdogs in the NFL betting odds for Week 1 (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 46.5 across the board.

Tampa Bay tallied a 1-4 straight-up and against-the-spread (ATS) record when receiving points at Raymond James Stadium in 2011, with their lone victory coming against the New Orleans Saints (26-20) as six-point underdogs in Week 6.

Sports bettors will find that the Buccaneers failed to cover the spread by an average of 14 points in their four losses in that situation, with much of the blame being placed on quarterback Josh Freeman. He has compiled a dismal 2-8 ATS mark as a home underdog in his first three years under center.

Carolina is going to be showered with plenty of preseason praise, especially with signal-caller Cam Newton entering his sophomore campaign. The former Auburn Tigers star beat the number in both of his opportunities as a road favorite in his rookie season.

The Panthers must be respected in this spot due to their 7-1 ATS record as road favorites in their last eight opportunities, including a 38-19 blowout win on this field as one-point favorites on Dec. 4.

From a value standpoint, I have to recommend a play on the Buccaneers, considering they have covered their last five division games when playing with revenge in the first four weeks of a season.

Early Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3

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