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Post sports gambling editor/producer and digital sports 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 usual shenanigans.
The Saints are blah. The Falcons have gone from interesting 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 year.
We are big believers in motivation in the NFL, and this game represents a “Can’t lose” spot for Dave Canales’ squad if they do indeed want to be the fat 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 year.
We like Carolina laying a field goal in this clash since we believe Tampa Bay won’t be able to keep pace offensively with a shockingly strong Panthers offense.
Don’t look now, but Carolina is fourth in points per game with 29.2, second in total yards per game with 404.4 and first in passing yards per game with 295.6.
Bryce Young has shown signs of being a franchise quarterback this season and is enjoying success throwing to Jalen Coker and Tet McMillan.
That passing success is needed against a Tampa Bay defense that ranks second in rushing yards allowed per game but is 18th against the pass.
After a slow start last week, Aaron Rodgers successfully picked apart the Buccaneers’ secondary to rally from a 16-3 fourth-quarter hole in the 26-19 overtime win.
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Carolina’s offense has also been elite at home, scoring 37 and 32 points, respectively, both against contenders in the Bears and Lions.
The Buccaneers have topped 20 points just once with backup Jalon Daniels, and that came against the Cowboys’ non-existent defense.
In a game that matters more to one team, feel comfortable backing the home squad with an elite offense to win at least by a field goal.
2026 record: 3-3
Last week: Steelers (W)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Matt Ehalt has been picking against the spread since his childhood days when he entered his father’s newspaper pool and even took the top prize on more than one occasion. He specializes in NFL wagers and is quite successful with NCAA brackets.