Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers Prediction, 12/21/2025 NFL Picks, Best Bets & Odds Week 16

Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers

Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025

Location: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC

TV: FOX

Odds-Point Spread: Panthers (+3)

Total-Over-Under: 45.5

Bank of America Stadium is the location where the Carolina Panthers (7-7) will attempt to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) on Sunday. Tampa Bay is 3-point favorites from Vegas oddsmakers. The over-under is set at 45.5.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers step on the gridiron holding a record of 7-7 this year. In their last contest, the Buccaneers faced the Atlanta Falcons and went home with a loss by a final score of 29-28. Baker Mayfield connected on 19-34 with 277 yds passing and 2 touchdowns. He had a quarterback rating of 90 and ended the game with 1 interception. Mike Evans held an average of 22.0 yards per reception by accounting for 132 yards on 6 receptions. Bucky Irving was the best rusher for the Buccaneers with 16 carries for 60 yds (3.8 yards per attempt). In all, they ran 56 plays for 338 yards. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran the football 22 times and recorded 88 yards, which earned them an average of 4.0 yards per attempt. Against the run, the Buccaneers gave up 111 yds on 21 attempts, which averages out to 5.3 yds per run surrendered. Tampa Bay gave up 30 completions on 44 tries for 365 yds, and a completion rate of 68.2%.

The Buccaneers currently have 4,433 total yards on the year. Tampa Bay has compiled 139 1st downs offensively, and they have been called for 76 penalties for 591 total yards. If you analyze notching touchdowns, Tampa Bay has accrued 22 touchdowns through the air and 12 touchdowns on the ground. They have given the ball away 11 different times (7 INTs and 4 fumbles). Offensively, they hold an average of 113.2 rushing yards which has them ranked 21st in professional football. If you're looking at getting the ball in the endzone, the NFC South representatives are averaging 23.4 PPG.

The Buccaneers are ranking 24th in professional football if you analyze their defensive prowess, yielding 25.3 points per outing. They are allowing an average of 4.3 yards per rushing attempt and 101.4 running yds per contest over the course of this year. If you analyze passing yards, the Buccaneers have given up 3,456 total yards, giving them a rank of 30th in professional football. They have allowed 246.9 total yards per contest by way of the pass, and are surrendering a completion percentage of 66.8%. Altogether, they are allowing 348.2 yds per contest, which is good for 25th in the league. They have relinquished 24 touchdowns through the air, in addition to 16 touchdowns by way of the ground game. Altogether, they have relinquished 1,419 running yards through 14 contests on the campaign.

Get all of our NFL Picks

The Panthers come into this game with a record of 7-7 for this campaign. The last time they stepped on the football field, the Panthers went home defeated by a final of 20-17 when they played the New Orleans Saints. Bryce Young (1 TD) finished the contest with 163 yds on 15-24 through the air while his quarterback rate was 96.4. He didn't toss any interceptions and his Y-A was 6.8 yds. Jalen Coker was the best receiver for the Panthers, grabbing 4 passes for 60 yds (15.0 yards per reception). Rico Dowdle carried the football 16 times for 49 yds, finishing the game with 3.1 yards per attempt for Carolina. The Panthers finished the game with a total of 281 yds and they ran 55 plays (5.1 yards per play). Carolina ran for 4.1 yards per carry, finishing the contest with 127 yds on 31 attempts. Carolina surrendered 25 rush attempts for 81 yds (3.2 yards per rush). The Panthers passing defense gave up a completion percentage of 72.7%, surrendering 256 yards on 24 for 33 through the air.

Regarding their ability to score points, the Panthers are ranked 28th in the NFL, by tallying 18.9 points per game. On the season, the Panthers have thrown for a total of 2,568 passing yds and are sitting at 183.4 passing yds per contest, which ranks 25th in the league. They have an average of 125.6 rushing yards per contest, and have carried the ball for 1,758 yds. The Carolina Panthers maintain an average of 309.0 total yards per contest, which ranks 24th in the league. The Carolina offense has surrendered 666 total yards by way of 82 violations, which ranks 26th in the league regarding helping out the other team. They have compiled 10 interceptions while allowing 8 fumbles lost, and have been able to record 145 1st downs as a team.

They have allowed 17 touchdowns by way of the pass along with 215.5 passing yds per contest, which ranks 17th in the league. Carolina has relinquished a total of 1,624 rushing yards (116.0 yds per outing), along with 17 touchdowns via the rush on the campaign. The D has compiled 17 takeaways (5 forced fumbles and 12 picks) this year. On the whole, they have relinquished 317 total points. The Panthers defense has participated in 823 plays, which has them ranked 7th in professional football. The Panthers are relinquishing 22.6 PPG, ranking this team at 14th in football.

Who will win tonight's Buccaneers-Panthers NFL game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Buccaneers -3

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get NFL picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.