Which staff member will nail their pick this week?
As the Bucs are set to take on the Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina this week, we here at Bucs Nation will dive into some picks and predictions for Tampa Bay’s big Week 13 divisional matchup.
Check it all out below.
Predictions
Gil Arcia: A “win is a win” type of game for the Bucs
Sure, it’s a game that on paper the Bucs should easily dominate. Much like last week’s game in New York, Tampa Bay could have fallen victim to a trap game but fortunately they did not. Do they have another dominating performance left in them? It’s possible, but won’t be in consecutive weeks.Former Bucs OC and current Panthers head coach Dave Canales remember the buttons he had to push going against Todd Bowles’ defense during practice and will try to do the same Sunday to keep Tampa Bay on their toes. However, a late-game touchdown by quarterback Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans will break the tie and allow the Bucs to get out of Charlotte with a win.
Mike Kiwak: Bucs defense actually does something
Yes, the Bucs held a shutout through 3 quarters against the Giants last week, but the Giants might also have the worst offense in football and that was before starting one of the worst quarterbacks in football in Tommy DeVito. The Panthers are clearly improving under former Buc Dave Canales, and Bryce Young actually looks competent, so this may be more of a test than some might suspect. The Tampa defense really needs to demonstrate improvement against some NFL-quality schemes and production. I’ll be cautiously optimistic and say they do, sacking Bryce Young 3 times and securing a late-game interception to seal the deal.
Will Walsh: Tampa’s backs torment Panthers’ defense
The Bucs are primed for a late-season run and game two of that run will be this Sunday. The Bucs will win big— with their ground game as a catalyst. The team’s rushing attack will carry them to nearly 30 points on the scoreboard and over 150 yards on the stat sheet.
Week 13 Staff Picks
Gil Arcia (7-4): Bucs 27, Panthers 20
Mike Kiwak (7-4): Bucs 28, Panthers 24
Evan Wanish (7-4): Bucs 26, Panthers 23
Will Walsh (6-5): Bucs 26, Panthers 16