The leaders in the NFC South, the Buccaneers (7-9) and the Panthers (8-8) meet Saturday in Tampa. Prior to the Falcons’ win over the Rams Monday Night, this game was a win and you’re in scenario. The winner takes the NFC South and the losers’ season comes to a sudden end. If the Panthers win, they take the division and go to the playoffs. However, that win by Atlanta muddies the waters a bit and gives Carolina an extra out if they lose Saturday. If the Falcons defeat the Saints on Sunday, the Panthers win the division even if they lose to the Bucs Saturday.
Baker Mayfield and the Bucs were in control of the NFC South midway through the season, but they have lost two in a row including a Week 16 loss to these Panthers and five of their last seven. Yes, the Bucs have had to battle through an inordinate number of injuries to key personnel. Yes, Mayfield is a warrior but sure looks to be battling at least a shoulder issue. The result, Tampa’s quest for a fifth consecutive division title is on life support.
Bryce Young and the Panthers feel like the team on the upswing in this matchup even though they have only alternated wins and losses in the last ten weeks. The third-year signal-caller led Carolina to that aforementioned Week 16 over Tampa throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Young has been less than great but certainly good enough at key moments in games engineering game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in 12 of his 14 wins in the NFL.
Lets take a deeper dive into these two teams and this matchup – stats, trends, and injuries - which for all intents and purposes is for the NFC South crown.
NBC Sports has all the latest info and analysis you need, including how to tune in for kickoff, odds from DraftKings, player news and updates courtesy of Rotoworld, and of course our predictions and best bets for the game from our staff of experts.
Game Details and How to Watch the Panthers and the Buccaneers live Saturday
- Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026
- Time: 4:30PM EST
- Site: Raymond James Stadium
- City: Tampa, Florida
- Network/Streaming: ABC
Want to check out the other games on the NFL schedule this week? We’ve got you covered at NBC Sports with all the matchup, venue, game-time and TV/streaming info so you won’t miss any of the action!
Game Odds: Panthers at Buccaneers
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Carolina Panthers (+120), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-142)
- Spread: Bucs -2.5
- Total: 43.5 points
This game opened at Tampa Bay -3.5 with the Game Total set at 45.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NFL schedule!
Quarterback Matchup: Panthers at Buccaneers
Panthers Starting QB: Bryce Young
Last Game: 12/28 vs. Seattle – 14-24, 54yds, 0TDs, 1INT, Sacked 2 times, 9 carries for 27yds rushing
Season: 15GP, 280-443, 2745yds, 21TDs, 10INTs, Sacked 27 times, 52 carries for 217yds rushing- Buccaneers Starting QB: Baker Mayfield
Last Game: 12/28 at Miami – 33-44, 346yds, 2TDs, 2INTs, Sacked 3 times, 3 carries for 16yds rushing
Season: 16GP, 327-521, 3490yds, 25TDs, 10INTs, Sacked 34 times, 51 carries for 351yds rushing
Panthers at Buccaneers: Team Stats and Betting Trends
- Baker Mayfield has thrown at least 1 INT in 6 of his last 7 games
- Mike Evans has caught 14 passes for 194 yards in 3 games (including 5 for 31 yards in Week 16 at Carolina) since returning from injury
- Rico Dowdle carried the ball 9 times for just 29 yards in the Week 16 win over Tampa Bay
- Chuba Hubbard carried the ball 6 times for just 27 yards in the Week 16 win over Tampa Bay
- Tampa Bay held the ball for 34:36 against Carolina in Week 16
Panthers Player Injuries
- TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle) is OUT for Saturday’s game
- DE Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- LB Claudin Cherelus (calf) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- CB Robert Rochell (concussion) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- WR David Moore (elbow) is eligible to be activated from the IR
Buccaneers Player Injuries
- LT Tristan Wirfs (toe) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- LB Haason Reddick (concussion) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- CB Jamel Dean (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- LB Anthony Nelson (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game
- DT Calijah Kancey (pectoral) is eligible to be activated from the IR
Rotoworld Best Bets
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NFL calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, stadium information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Best bets our model is projecting for this week’s game between the Panthers and the Buccaneers
- Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Bucs on the Moneyline.
- Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Bucs -2.5.
- Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 43.5.
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest betting info & tools for NFL with player news, game predictions, player props, futures, and trends!
Follow our experts on Socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
