| Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 PM | Spread | Money | Total |
| Chicago Bears |  -2.5 (-115) |  -135 |  O 45.5 (-106) |
| Carolina Panthers |  +2.5 (-113) | +118 | U 44.5 (-110) |
The NFC South will have a leader in sole possession of the top spot after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) travel north to face the Carolina Panthers (7-7) on Sunday.
Tampa Bay started the season strong, earning a 6-2 record during the first half of the NFL campaign. The wheels have fallen off since that start as the Bucs have lost five of their past six contests. Head coach Todd Bowles even questioned his team’s resolve after a 29-28 loss to the Falcons last week.
Carolina’s season has been a back-and-forth battle indicative of a young team. The Panthers have some stunning wins, including victories over the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers. But some losses are equally as shocking, including a pair of losses to the New Orleans Saints.
Which team will emerge victorious in the first of two matchups between these two teams? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player props for Sunday’s contest.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield OVER 228.5 Passing Yards
Baker Mayfield’s season has been another strong showing by the former No. 1 overall pick. The 30-year-old has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,999 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
A November swoon has kept him – and his team – from being more successful. The Bucs faced four potential playoff teams, and he completed only 54 percent of his passes for 530 yards, four scores, and four picks during the key stretch.
He should find Carolina’s defense a little softer than those matchups. The Panthers have allowed only six teams to surpass 230 yards passing this season, but two of those contests were in the past two weeks. Bettors should expect Mayfield to cover his passing prop total.
Carolina Panthers RB Rico Dowdle OVER 57.5 Rushing Yards
Few analysts expected Rico Dowdle to be the Panthers’ top rusher in 2025. The 27-year-old is not just leading his team with 208 carries for 978 yards and six rushing touchdowns, he’s also among the league’s top 20 in those categories.
Until recently, the Buccaneers were among the best rushing defenses in the NFL. But the team has allowed three straight running backs to surpass the 60-yard mark against them. Dowdle will have a strong game on Sunday as the runner has finished with double-digit touches in every game since October. Take him to cover his player prop bet total on Sunday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Evans OVER 57.5 Receiving Yards
After missing more than a month, Tampa Bay finally had 32-year-old wide receiver Mike Evans in their lineup last week against Atlanta. Mayfield targeted him 12 times, and he caught six passes for 132 yards against the Falcons.
That single contest is worth nearly half of his yards this season. In four other games, the 6-foot-5 wideout hauled in 140 receiving yards despite being targeted 31 times in 2025.
Should bettors trust his last performance versus his previous showings this year? Yes. Take the over as the Panthers’ secondary has surrendered over 410 yards to receivers the past two games.
Best Bet: OVER 45.5 Points
Defensively, the Panthers have been solid this season compared to last year’s abysmal showing. After finishing ranked last in several categories, a middle-of-the-pack placement for this year’s unit is a big accomplishment.
Despite their improvements, Tampa Bay always finds a way to score against the Panthers with Mayfield under center. That’s why bettors should take the over for the 45.5-point combined total. As for the winner, expect the Bucs to squeeze past Carolina by a field goal or fewer points.
The smartest 5 minutes in betting
Get the week's best offers, line moves, and data-driven picks — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Join 240,000+ subscribers. 21+ only.
