Buccaneers vs. Panthers prediction, odds, line, time: NFL Week 18 Saturday picks by proven model

The NFL Week 18 Saturday matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will determine who wins the NFC South and earns a playoff berth. Carolina (8-8) faces a win-and-in scenario, while Tampa (7-9) must win to have a shot at the postseason. The Bucs also need Atlanta to lose to New Orleans on Sunday to clinch a postseason spot and the NFC’s No. 4 seed. Both teams are coming off Week 17 losses, while the Bucs have dropped four in a row overall. Starting cornerback Jamel Dean (shoulder) has been ruled out for Tampa Bay. 

Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. ET from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Carolina prevailed, 23-20, when these teams met two weeks ago. The latest Panthers vs. Buccaneers odds have Tampa as the 3-point favorite, while the over/under for total points scored is 43.5 via DraftKings Sportsbook. Before making any Buccaneers vs. Panthers picks, check out the NFL predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model. 

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 18 on a 53-37 run on top-rated picks dating back to 2024. Anybody following its NFL betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Panthers vs. Buccaneers. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NFL odds and betting trends Bucs vs. Panthers:

Why the Panthers can cover

It was just two weeks ago that Carolina defeated Tampa, and the former has overwhelmingly performed better versus the spread this season. Tampa has dropped a staggering eight straight games ATS, as its 5-11 record versus the line this year is the worst in the NFL. The Bucs are just 1-6 ATS at home, while Carolina brings a 9-5 spread record as an underdog in 2025. On the field, the Panthers can take advantage of the Bucs’ No. 30 redzone defense and a team that hasn’t won the turnover battle in each of its last four games, which were all straight-up defeats. See which team to back at SportsLine. 

Why the Buccaneers can cover

Tampa has owned the recent matchups in this series, going 9-2 over their last 11 meetings. The Buccaneers also have the edge in one of the most important stats in any level of football, and that’s the turnover margin. The Bucs have the fifth-best turnover differential (plus-five) in the NFL, while the Panthers are just tied for 14th with as many takeaways as giveaways. Tampa Bay also has a clear strength of running the ball as it has the No. 7 rush offense, despite missing Bucky Irving for nearly half of the season. Thus, the Buccaneers can exploit Carolina’s run defense, which ranks 24th in terms of yards per rush allowed, and just three teams have given up more rushing touchdowns (24) than the Panthers. See which team to back at SportsLine.

How to make Buccaneers vs. Panthers picks

SportsLine’s model has simulated Panthers vs. Buccaneers 10,000 times and is going Over on the total, projecting 48 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Bucs vs. Panthers, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Panthers vs. Bucs spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up well over $7,000 on its NFL picks since its inception, and find out.