T.M. Selection: Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cover the spread against the Carolina Panthers in this game on Sunday. The Buccaneers have already clinched the playoffs but they are still playing for seeding. If they win in this game then they have a chance to get home advantage for their 1st 2 games of the playoffs since the 1st round bye is off the table already. The Bucs have not looked their best in their games lately with a loss in their previous 3 games where they were shut out and then a win against the Jets in their most recent game, a game where they didn't have the lead at all until they scored the winning TD in the last minute of the game. I don't think Tom Brady deems this kind of play acceptable with the playoffs right around the corner and I expect him to get himself and the entire team back on track with a great performance and a big win in this game to finish the regular season off right. The Panthers have been terrible lately, they have lost 6 games in a row and they are nowhere near solving their issues at QB. They have scored 10 points or less in their previous 2 games and they have put up 14 points or less in 4 of their previous 5 games. They also played the Bucs at home about 2 weeks ago and they got destroyed 32-6 in that game, and the Bucs have not been great on the road this year. They will play much better at home here and they need a good game to make up for almost losing to the Jets last week. I think that the Buccaneers are going to try hard for that win here, especially when they have been a much better team at home this year, if they have a chance to win the 2nd seed and get some home advantage for their 1st 2 playoff games then they will do what they can to get that. I think this game is going to be even worse than their last meeting, I like the Buccaneers to cover the spread here.

T.M. Prediction: 35-3 Buccaneers.