The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will try to rebound from their shutout loss to New Orleans in Week 16 when they face the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte in NFL Week 16. The total for this contest has dropped from an opener of 48 to 44 at several sportsbooks, including BetMGM.
SuperBook USA posted the opening total prior to Tampa Bay’s loss of star WR Chris Godwin to a torn ACL against the Saints on Sunday night. WR Mike Evans and RB Leonard Fournette are also being monitored with strained hamstrings. Evans appears to have a better chance to play Sunday than does Fournette.
While Carolina has been virtually eliminated from playoff contention, the Bucs (10-4) are currently the NFC’s third seed and trail No. 1 seed Green Bay (11-4) by one game.
Cam Newton and Sam Darnold are both expected to see time at QB for the Panthers.
Let’s examine the remainder of Week 16 totals with all lines current as of Thursday morning.
Thursday: 49ers at Titans (O/U 44)
These teams don’t play regularly, so the fact that the last five games in this series have all gone ‘over’ doesn’t mean much. The first game in the stretch came in 1999 and the last in 2017. An interesting tidbit, anyway.
Also read: 49ers-Titans player props
Browns at Packers (O/U 45.5)
Green Bay is riding a four-game streak to the ‘over’ after its narrow 31-30 escape against the Ravens. Cleveland is still fighting to make the playoffs.
Colts at Cardinals (O/U 49)
This is the highest total on the Week 16 board along with Rams-Vikings. Head to PointsBet if you’re thinking about betting the ’over’ here. It was being offered at 48 as of Thursday.
Giants at Eagles (O/U 40.5)
If you’re still betting ‘over’ in games involving the Giants after the last two months, you are either masochistic or not paying attention. They’ve gone ‘over’ in one of their last nine games (1-7-1).
Chargers at Texans (O/U 45.5)
The Chargers have been a reliable ‘over’ bet in four of their last five games. The concern lies with Houston. Before its 30-10 win over doormat Jacksonville last week, Houston averaged nine points in their previous three games.
Lions at Falcons (O/U 42.5)
Detroit has gone ‘under’ in five of its last six road games. Atlanta has cashed five ‘under’ tickets in five of its last six games. This is still a stay-away play in my humble opinion.
Ravens at Bengals (O/U 45.5)
Lamar Jackson is still iffy for this one as he recovers from an ankle sprain. But backup QB Tyler Huntley looked equally effective against the Packers. The Ravens have gone ‘under’ in five of their last six roadies, though.
Rams at Vikings (O/U 49)
Both teams are coming off ho-hum, low-scoring wins in Week 15. The thought here is that sets the stage for a big bounce by both teams to the ‘over’ in the dome.
Jags at Jets (O/U 41.5)
It’s a shame that some of these games have to be played. On the other hand, America has an insatiable appetite for football and betting. The Jags, like the Giants, have gone ‘over’ one time in the last nine games.
Bills at Pats (O/U 43.5)
The marquee game of the week. The forecast in Foxborough on Sunday is fairly tame, unlike when these two teams played in Buffalo on Dec. 6. As a result, the number here is getable for ‘over’ players.
Bears at Seahawks (O/U 43)
It’s hard to be enthused about many points being scored here. Seattle looked disjointed on offense in the 20-10 loss to the Rams. The Bears have played in five straight ‘under’ contests.
Steelers at Chiefs (O/U 46)
Now that Kansas City has a defense, it makes it harder to feel comfortable in casually playing the ‘over’ in games at Arrowhead Stadium. Two of their last three home tilts have gone ‘under’ the total.
Broncos at Raiders (O/U 41.5)
This is a pretty low number, but recency bias screams about any bet on the ‘over’ here. The Raiders did what they needed to do in a 16-14 comeback win over Cleveland, and the Broncos spit the bit in a 15-10 loss at home to Cincinnati last week.
Washington Football Team at Cowboys (O/U 47)
There’s something fishy about the offense in Big D. The Cowboys have played great defensively, and those two factors combined have led to seven ‘unders’ in their last eight games.
Monday: Dolphins at Saints (O/U 38.5)
Super low number here. It might have something to do with the Saints shutting out Tampa Bay, 9-0, on Sunday. New Orleans has been a solid ‘under’ team in four of its last five games.
Also read: Bucs stumble down Super Bowl oddsboard | Christmas Day NFL Teaser
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