Panthers
vs.
Bucs
Week 1
NFL Pick
with Analysis
9/6/14
The Tampa Bay Bucs will host the Carolina Panthers in week 1 NFL action on Sunday. The Bucs are currently listed as -2 point favorites over the Panthers at 5 dimes sportsbook with a total of 39. Cam Newton was at one point listed as questionable for this Game but is now probable.
So, how does a 12-4 playoff team with arguably the best defense in the NFL a year ago end up as an underdog in week 1 to a 4-12 team that was among the leagues worst? Chalk it up to off season moves and the bettors/oddsmakers reaction to those off season moves. Betonline actually first posted a line on this Game back in April and they had Carolina favored by -3. So, almost a 6 point line move as a result of what transpired.
So what transpired? Well, for starters, the Bucs are a completely different team this year. OUt goes the quarterback, out goes the coach. In comes Josh McCown and Lovey Smith. They then added some receivers that were meant to mimic what McCown had to work with in Chicago. i.e. BIG targets. Quite frankly they attempted to address every glaring weakness they had last season which Tampa fans should be thankful for. This WILL be a better Bucs team in 2014.
The Panthers though, went in the opposite direction. Cam Newton had little to work with as it was a year ago and now the Panthers went ahead and got rid of his top 3 targets from a year ago. Their offensive line is a mess and they lost 3 starters from their secondary.
HeNCe, the 6 point line move that now has the Bucs favored……
I’m a defensive guy. Think 85 Bears or 86 Giants. Not comparing last years Panthers defense to those units but it was a pretty damn good defense. I have to assume they’ll be a decent unit again this year despite losses in the secondary. Yeah, the Bucs will be better, but it should be a work in progress with plenty of kinks to work out. New coaches, new schemes new players, You know the deal.
Perhaps the under is the way to look in this Game. The Panthers offense certainly doesn’t look like it will do much other than Cam Newton running all over the field, eating up the clock and that Panther “D” figures to cause all kinds of problems for a Bucs offense working things out.
We’ll go ahead and take a stab at the Panthers +2 and the Under 39. Something along the lines of 20-17, Panthers.