Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Odds, Analysis, NFL Pick

The Carolina Panthers will be looking to avoid a third straight outright loss when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina's woes continued last week with a 48-33 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. That marked the highest number of points Carolina has allowed in two years and dropped them to 1-3 straight up and against the spread on the season.

The Bucs travel to Charlotte riding a three-game SU and ATS losing streak, tallying just seven points in two of those contests, and they will be searching for their first SU win in Carolina since 2012.

Point spread: The Panthers opened as 4.5-point favorites; the total was 46 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. (Line updates and matchup report)

NFL pick, per the Odds Shark computer: 26.7-16.0 Panthers (NFL picks on every game)

Why the Buccaneers can cover the spread

It has been feast or famine for the Tampa Bay offense this season. Quarterback Jameis Winston tossed four touchdown passes in the Buccaneers' 31-24 Week 1 win over the Falcons as 2.5-point road underdogs, and he added three scores in the team's 37-32 loss to the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago.

Tampa Bay has struggled with consistency, though, falling flat in blowout losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos, but the defense has proved effective at containing opposing passers, surrendering an average of just 200.5 passing yards in the team's past two games.

The Buccaneers' rush defense has also showed signs of improvement, holding the Broncos to just 89 yards on the ground last week.

Why the Panthers can cover the spread

The uncertain status of Cam Newton has created question marks for the Panthers, with veteran backup Derek Anderson poised to take over under center if Newton is unable to play Monday.

Anderson produced mixed results last week in relief, tossing a pair of touchdowns but also a pair of picks in the dying moments of the contest. However, Anderson has enjoyed success against the Buccaneers, powering Carolina to a pair of SU wins versus Tampa Bay in 2014.

A return to action by injured running back Jonathan Stewart would also position the Panthers' ground game to surpass 100 rushing yards for the 31st time in the team's past 32 outings.

Smart pick

The Panthers have dominated Tampa Bay in recent years, winning six consecutive games SU and going 5-1 ATS. Carolina has surrendered just 11.0 points per game to the Buccaneers in three straight home wins, and it is undefeated in two previous meetings with the Buccaneers on Monday night.

However, with Carolina mired in its worst slump in two years and Newton hobbled by injury, opportunity knocks for a budding Buccaneers squad that has demonstrated the ability to score a lot of points. Look for Tampa Bay to shock the Panthers with a SU and ATS road victory.

Betting trends

The Buccaneers are 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS in their last six games against the Panthers.

The Panthers are 14-0 SU in their last 14 games against teams with losing records.

The Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last five games on Monday.

All NFL betting lines and point spreads data courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, Odds Shark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and Odds Shark YouTube for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.