12/30 NFL Carolina -3.5 @ Tampa Bay

[Spartacus]

Tampa Bay heads to the playoffs with fresh losses to the 49ers and Texans on their resume. They won't want to add a loss to 6-9 Carolina to the list, but recent history suggests a roady victory. The road team has won five of the past six meetings between these NFC South foes.

Oddsmakers currently have the Panthers listed as 3-point favorites versus the Buccaneers, while the game's total is sitting at 36.

The Panthers were knocked down 20-13 by the Cowboys last time out, as 11-point home underdogs. The 33 points were UNDER the posted total of 42.5.

Steve Smith caught nine passes for 137 yards with the only touchdown in the loss.

The Buccaneers lost to San Francisco 21-19 as a 6.5-point favorite in Week 16. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under (36.5).

Jeff Garcia completed 12-of-20 passes for 196 yards with a touchdown for Tampa Bay and Jerramy Stevens caught four passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

 

[Spartacus]

Tampa Bay is resting starters in this game much as they did last week in their loss at San Francisco. Jeff Garcia will play a bit and then hand the game over to backup Luke McCown. The Bucs will also sit out some defensive starters, but the backups did a pretty good job last week in the second half against the 49ers and I think there has been an over-adjustment in the line. I’ll lean with Tampa Bay.