NFL Odds Week 18: Buccaneers vs Panthers Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

2 minute read

Week 18 of the NFL season continues with a potentially meaningful NFC South battle between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. The betting odds Tampa as a 5.5-point favorite after dropping a crucial game against New Orleans last week. Coverage begins from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.

Here's everything you need to know about the NFL odds for Week 18: Buccaneers vs. Panthers lines, spreads, betting trends and more.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers Odds

• Opening point spread: Buccaneers -5.5
• Opening moneyline: Buccaneers -250/Panthers +200
• Opening total: Over/Under 37.5 points scored
• Time: 1 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX)

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Tampa Bay controls its own destiny: Win, and it wins the NFC South and the No. 4 seed. Lose, and the Bucs will need some help.

TwinSpires opened Tampa -5.5 and this afternoon fell back to -4.5. That said, spread tickets and money are running 2/1 on the Buccaneers, in a lightly bet game so far.

"Not many are touching this dumpster fire of a game. We'll need Carolina, but it won't be a big decision," Lucas said.

TwinSpires' total is steady at 37.5 on two-way play with a lean toward the Under, at 57% of bets/52% of money.

UPDATE 10 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Tampa Bay (8-8 SU/9-7 ATS) could've clinched the NFC South in Week 17. But nobody really wants to win the NFC South, it seems. The Bucs closed as 2.5-point home favorites vs. the Saints and tumbled 23-13.

Carolina (2-14 SU/5-10-1 ATS) was a 3.5-point road 'dog against a Jacksonville squad minus Trevor Lawrence (shoulder). But the Panthers came up with a big doughnut, losing 26-0.

Tampa Bay hit The SuperBook's NFL odds Week 18 market as a 5.5-point favorite tonight. There's been no movement on the spread, and the total is also stable at 37.5.

Click here for Vegas Insider senior reporter Patrick Everson's full NFL Odds Week 18 Report containing spreads, lines, and trends for every NFL matchup.

Buccaneers vs Panthers Pick, Prediction

Action Network NFL betting expert Brandon Anderson offers this prediction:

Check back soon for picks!

Pick: TBD

For more NFL picks, check out Action Network's NFL Week 18: How to Bet Every Game & Every Team.

The One Stat to Know About Buccaneers vs Panthers

Action Network NFL researcher Evan Abrams offers his top betting stat:

Check back soon for betting stats!

For more NFL betting stats, check out Action Network's NFL Week 18 Betting Trends, Stats, Notes.

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Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson