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Post sports activities playing editor/producer and digital sports activities editor Matt Ehalt is back for his third season in the NFL Bettor’s Guide.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (-3) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For all the consternation about the NFC East, the NFC South is up to its common shenanigans.
The Saints are blah. The Falcons have gone from attention-grabbing back to irrelevant. The Buccaneers have walked the plank.
That leaves the Panthers — by no means one of the NFC’s juggernauts — with a clear path to win the division for the second straight yr.
We are large believers in motivation in the NFL, and this recreation represents a “Can’t lose” spot for Dave Canales’ squad if they do indeed need to be the fats cats in the division.
Tampa Bay’s season is over at 1-5, and even Baker Mayfield’s pending return won’t save an offense that has struggled this yr.
We like Carolina laying a area objective in this conflict since we believe Tampa Bay won’t be ready to maintain tempo offensively with a shockingly robust Panthers offense.
Don’t look now, but Carolina is fourth in factors per recreation with 29.2, second in whole yards per recreation with 404.4 and first in passing yards per recreation with 295.6.
Bryce Young has proven indicators of being a franchise quarterback this season and is having fun with success throwing to Jalen Coker and Tet McMillan.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) rolls out and appears to be like to cross during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That passing success is wanted against a Tampa Bay protection that ranks second in dashing yards allowed per recreation but is 18th against the cross.
After a sluggish begin last week, Aaron Rodgers efficiently picked aside the Buccaneers’ secondary to rally from a 16-3 fourth-quarter gap in the 26-19 additional time win.
Betting on the NFL?
Carolina’s offense has also been elite at home, scoring 37 and 32 factors, respectively, both against contenders in the Bears and Lions.
The Buccaneers have topped 20 factors just once with backup Jalon Daniels, and that came against the Cowboys’ non-existent protection.
In a recreation that issues more to one team, really feel comfy backing the home squad with an elite offense to win at least by a area objective.
2026 file: 3-3
Last week: Steelers (W)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Matt Ehalt has been selecting against the unfold since his childhood days when he entered his father’s newspaper pool and even took the high prize on more than one event. He specializes in NFL wagers and is fairly profitable with NCAA brackets.
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