The battle for the NFC South could be the first thing decided on the NFL’s final week, as the Carolina Panthers travel to take on the fading Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Carolina makes the playoffs with a win, but could also slip in if it loses to Tampa Bay and Atlanta beats New Orleans Sunday. Tampa Bay’s only way in is with a win and a Saints victory over Atlanta.
Tampa is favored by keep its season alive for another day, as it is a 2 1/2-point home favorite.
What time is the NFL game Saturday?
The first game of Saturday’s NFL doubleheader features the Carolina Panthers traveling to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 2:30 p.m. MT/3:30 p.m. CT at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It will be televised on ABC and ESPN.
What channel is Saturday’s first NFL game on?
The game between the Panthers and Buccaneers will be televised nationally on ABC and ESPN.
TV: ABC and ESPN
Carolina Panthers record
The Panthers are 8-8.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers record
The Buccaneers are 7-9.
Panthers at Bucanneers odds
Buccaneers -2 1/2. Over-under 44. Tampa Bay is -145 on the money line and Carolina is +120.
Panthers at Buccaneers predictions
The line: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23, Carolina Panthers 21.
With a line of 2 1/2 points and an over-under of 44, the Buccaneers are expected to win 23-21.
The Arizona Republic: Buccaneers 23, Panthers 21
Jeremy Cluff writes: “The Panthers beat the Buccaneers on Dec. 21, 23-20. The Buccaneers have lost four games in a row. The winner of this game likely wins the NFC South and the final NFC playoff berth. We don’t have much confidence in either team’s ability to win a postseason game, but we’ll take the home team to get there.”
Sports Betting Dime: Buccaneers 19.1, Panthers 18.8
The site’s formula predicts that the Buccaneers will win the NFL Week 18 game against the Panthers.?
ESPN: Buccaneers have a 61.5% chance to beat Panthers on Saturday
The site gives the Panthers a 38.2% shot at winning the NFL Week 18 game, with the remaining percentage accounting for a tie.
Odds Shark: Bet the Panthers with the points vs Buccaneers
Ethan Diamandas writes: “Tampa Bay holds home-field advantage and enters as the favorite, but troubling trends suggest Carolina can cover this number. Miami torched them for 217 yards on three consecutive drives in Week 17, while Mayfield’s three giveaways proved costly. Young already demonstrated he can execute in Tampa with a composed performance two weeks ago, and Carolina’s defensive foundation should keep this game tight enough for the Panthers to cover three points.”
Sportsnaut: Panthers 27, Buccaneers 20
Matt Johnson writes: “It is the battle for the NFC South crown, with the winner hosting a playoff game and the loser’s season coming to an end in Week 18. Just two weeks ago, the Carolina Panthers emerged victorious at home (23–20) over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Bryce Young outplaying Baker Mayfield and winning despite losing the time-of-possession battle (34:36 to 25:24). Carolina has simply looked like the better team over the last two months of the season, and Mayfield’s second-half collapse (9–8 TD-INT, 60.8 percent completion rate, and 77.0 passer rating) is an underrated factor in Tampa Bay’s downfall. Even on the road, we have more confidence in Young and the Panthers’ coaching staff than we do in the Buccaneers.”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: What channel is Saturday’s first NFL game on today? Panthers at Bucs
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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