The final week of the NFL 2025 regular season gets underway with a double header on Saturday night where it is all about the NFC South title in the opening game of the action as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Carolina Panthers.
The equation for this one is simple. The winners win the NFC South division and will host the fifth seeds in the Conference next week while the losers will see their season end here so there is everything on the line in this one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have been widely expected to dominate the NFC South this season when the campaign got underway and for large parts of the opening phase of the year that is exactly how things were playing out. They were 6-2 as their approached the halfway point of the season but things have turned spectacularly sour since then and they have won just one of their last eight games. It shows how weak the South division is that despite that run, the Bucs go into the final game of the season knowing a win sends them into the playoffs.
One issue has been the fitness of their quarterback Baker Mayfield. He is playing but he is clearly doing so a little banged up and he doesn’t get much protection from his offensive line so that is something which could be a real factor in this match. If he can keep the pass rush at bay then he has his receivers back to do some damage. You do get the feeling that the defence is going to need to be counted here because the offense is clearly struggling.
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Carolina Panthers
I don’t think too many would have expected the Carolina Panthers to be leading the NFC South going into the final week of the season but that is the case. They are only 8-8 for their own record but that is enough to lead the way, however if they are to extend their year then they are going to have to go on the road and win this match. Generally the Panthers have travelled well this term but they have lost their last two road trips so might just have something to prove here.
Carolina do have the confidence of knowing that they beat Tampa Bay just prior to Christmas in a game where the offenses didn’t exactly flourish but Bryce Young was good enough down the stretch to get the job done. His poise and comfort in tight situations has very much been a highlight of the Carolina season and it goes without saying that they will be wanting more of the same from their quarterback. More will be on his shoulders if Rico Dowdle, rated questionable, isn’t good to go.
Betting
We should be in for a really competitive match here but it isn’t one that I’m really comfortable betting on the outcome of. Generally when we have a playoff match, which this basically is, I go with the better defence, which in my eyes is Tampa Bay overall but they have so many issues offensively that I just don’t trust them as favourites so rather than go with something in a game which could go either way, I’ll take a player prop bet.
That comes in the form of the Carolina Panthers’ backup running back Chuba Hubbard, who has a rushing yards line of 27.5 which he almost covered in six carries two weeks ago when he rushed for exactly 27 yards. Rico Dowdle picked up a toe injury against Seattle last week though so he might be limited here which should in theory see Hubbard get closer to double figures in terms of carries and therefore this line looks likely to be covered. In 14 matches this season, Hubbard has covered this in eight games and had that 27 yard effort against Tampa Bay. With a likely greater role here and Carolina potentially more likely to be in front than there was that possibility against Seattle, I’ll take this line to be covered.
Tips
Back C.Hubbard – Over 27.5 rushing yards for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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