Monday, November 13, 2006

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers – Bank of America Stadium (Grass)

This week’s Monday nighter is living testament that preseason projections account for absolutely nothing. Before the season kicked off, many were picking the Bucs and the Cats to be the top two teams in the NFC South, as it stands they are currently the exact opposite.

Barring a complete reversal of fortune, the Bucs will miss the playoffs. The Panthers on the other hand, are still in the hunt and a win on MNF will be of great benefit. Carolina should be fresh too, coming off a bye.

Records: Tampa Bay 2-6 (4-4 ATS), Carolina 4-4 (2-5-1 ATS)

Game Time: 8:30 PM EST

Line: Panthers -9½ (Opening: Panthers -9)

Over/Under: 37 (Opening: 36½)

Key Injuries: Tampa Bay’s injury report features a pair of good defensive players and RB.

LB Shelton Quarles (knee) and DE Simeon Rice (shoulder) are both listed as questionable but according to The Sporting News both are out for the Monday nighter.

The Bucs’ ground game may be lacking depth as RB Michael Pittman, who practiced on Friday, despite a sore shoulder, remains listed as questionable.

Like the Bucs, the Panthers have some key players who are less than 100 percent.

DT Jordan Carstens has a blood clot in his lung, which will force him to miss this week and could land him on IR.

C Justin Hartwig will miss MNF as well with a groin injury.

According to reports in the local Carolina media, it will take more than a groin injury to keep DB Ken Lucas out of the lineup. He is expected to play even though he is listed as questionable.

WR Keyshawn Johnson may have missed practice with an illness earlier in the week, but he should be rearing to go, listed as probable.

Rookie RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle), who hasn't seen action since Week 5, should return to the lineup.

Monday Night Numbers and Trends

*courtesy of everyedge.com

- The favorite in this series is 1-6 against the spread.

- Tampa Bay is 3-8 ATS in their last 11 meetings with Carolina and 1-4 ATS in their last five visits.

- Tampa Bay is 8-2 ATS as underdogs on Monday night.

- The Panthers are 1-6 ATS at home after back-to-back straight up losses.

- Carolina is 10-4 ATS when hosting divisional opponents after a SU/ATS loss.

Additional Numbers

- The Panthers have yet to pay out at home, sporting an 0-3-1 ATS record.

- Tampa Bay sports a nasty 2-10 record against the number, on the road, when playing on a natural field.

- Carolina has gone under in their last eight tilts against fellow NFC Southerners at Bank of America.

- With the total between 35½ and 42, the Bucs have done likewise (go under) 11 out of 13 times when away from Raymond James.

Winneronline Opinion: A lot of numbers to crunch in this one, but three stick out: The Bucs’ record as dogs on MNF, Carolina’s record ATS at home and the under. Take Tampa Bay and the under.