Logan's Prediction: Expect a solid rushing game for Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard against the Buccaneers!
To win the division, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not only need to defeat the Carolina Panthers in Saturday’s Week 18 showdown but also need the Atlanta Falcons to lose to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Carolina’s path to the division crown is far less complicated: win and punch your postseason ticket. And speaking of keeping things less complicated, the Panthers have a “straightforward” approach to beating the Bucs, with plenty of touches for running back Chuba Hubbard. has received a surge in playing time since Week 12, registering 20-plus snaps in each of the past four games.Dowdle injured his toe in last weekend’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and while he’s expected to play on Saturday, he has missed practice on the short week. need Hubbard to step up in this do-or-die matchup. Head coach Dave Canales didn’t hide his faith in Hubbard, calling him a stud and a leader on the team when asked about the veteran running back. “I love Chuba,” Canales told the media. “Going to give him the ball some more and find ways for him to impact the game, because he’s just a guy that I really trust.” Hubbard had a big day in the win over the L.A. Rams in Week 12, rushing 17 times for 83 yards. Since then, he’s received eight carries for 29 yards, six handoffs for 27 yards , and had just four runs for 12 yards in the loss to Seattle.would mean tough sledding for rival running backs. However, the Buccaneers’ run defense has crumbled in the second half of the season. It’s gone from a Top-3 defense in EPA allowed per handoffs and opponent success rate per run in the opening eight weeks to 21st and 14th in those advanced metrics since Week 9. Hubbard’s Week 18 projections range from 27 rushing yards to 34 yards, with most models north of 30 yards on the ground. Given Dowdle’s injury and Canales’ promise of more touches, I believe the ceiling is high for Carolina’s Canadian-born running back in Week 18. The Bucs have the better quarterback and home-field advantage, while the Panthers have struggled to score on the road.It’s tough to beat a division rival twice in one season, especially on their own field with the season on the line.Tetairoa McMillan: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links. In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst; has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike. Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet. He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous NFL Underdogs column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jasons first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns. On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast; WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio; he had his analysis featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers; flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.Copyright © 1995 - 2026 CS Media Limited All Rights Reserved. If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so.It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly.Covers does not provide any advice or guidance as to the legality of online sports betting or other online gambling activities within your jurisdiction and you are responsible for complying with laws that are applicable to you in your relevant locality.Covers disclaims all liability associated with your use of this website and use of any information contained on it.As a condition of using this website, you agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from your use of any services on any third party website that may be featured by Covers.
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