NFL Week 13 Preview: Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
Online Sportsbook Overview
No one is more disappointed in the way that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season has
turned out than head coach Raheem Morris. Aside from the fact that this season could
cost Morris his job, Morris was the one that was boasting how good the Bucs were
going to be this year. It was Morris who went on television early in the 2010 season
to announce that the Bucs were one of the best teams in the NFC. It looked like the
Buccaneers were ready to prove its head coach right as the 2010 season came to an end.
But Morris and the Buccaneers have been unable to recapture that magic from last season
and, as a result, the Buccaneers sit at 4-7 and find itself well out of the NFC playoff
picture.
The Carolina Panthers were supposed to lose to the Colts in week 12 and give the Colts
its first win of the season. But the price per head bookie experts may have to come to
grips with the fact that the Panthers are done being an NFL Picks doormat. The price per head
services that had the Panthers losing to the Colts for week 12 were surprised at how
well the Panthers played, especially later in the game. It looks like the Carolina defense
is finally starting to catch up with the Panthers’ offense in terms of quality. The work
ethic of rookie quarterback Cam Newton is starting to affect the entire team and has the
Panthers looking forward to what should be a very eventful 2012 season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers focused so much on improving the offense in the offseason that it kind
of forgot about the defense. The Tampa Bay defense is ranked 31st in the league and is
one of the main reasons why the Bucs cannot seem to move forward this season. Another
big problem for the Bucs is the inconsistent play of quarterback Josh Freeman. While
Freeman has been able to establish an impressive stat of 2,715 passing yards in 11 games,
his offensive production is questionable. Freeman has thrown for only 12 touchdowns
this season and has offset those 12 touchdowns with 16 interceptions. With the betonline
Tampa Bay running game accounting for only four touchdowns this year, the team needs
more from Freeman if it is going to win.
Carolina Panthers
If quarterback Cam Newton keeps developing at the pace he is developing at, then this
divisional battle will have a much different look next season. Newton has 3,093 passing
yards and 12 touchdown passes this season. But a betonline review of Newton’s stats
show that he has a similar interception problem as Freeman. The difference is that Cam
Newton is showing signs that he is capable of making better decisions and lowering his
interception total while Josh Freeman seems to be stuck in the bad habits he has created
over the years.
The Bottom Line
This divisional game is insignificant to the playoff picture this season, but that may not
be the case next year. The Panthers may need games like this to stay in the playoff hunt
next year. As for this year, this will be the game where the Panthers start to establish
dominance over teams like Tampa Bay.
Pick: Carolina Panthers
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