The Carolina Panthers visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL Week 18 on Saturday, January 3. Kickoff is set for in 4:30 p.m. ET from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game will be broadcast live on ABC/ESPN.
For my Panthers vs Buccaneers anytime touchdown picks, I'm targeting Mike Evans and Bryce Young.
Continue below for my Panthers vs Buccaneers anytime touchdown preview for Saturday afternoon.
Panthers vs Buccaneers Anytime Touchdown Props
- Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown (+155; bet365)
- Bryce Young Anytime Touchdown (+550; bet365)
Panthers vs Buccaneers Anytime Touchdown Picks
Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown (+155)
In three games since returning from injury, Evans has a ridiculous 0.31 targets per route run, while also seeing five end-zone targets and scoring three touchdowns.
He’s clearly QB Baker Mayfield’s top target, which has been consistent throughout his time as a Buccaneer, with Evans now scoring 27 touchdowns in 38 career games with Baker at QB (21-of-38 games, a 56% hit rate).
I’m high on the Buccaneers’ passing game in this one, and while I can make the case for WR Chris Godwin or WR Emeka Egbuka, there’s just too much data to ignore when Evans is at +170.
My rule of thumb when betting Bucs TD scorers: if you bet Evans to score and another receiver does instead, you live with it.
If you don’t bet Evans and instead go with Godwin or Egbuka, but Evans is the one who scores, that one’s on you.
Pick: Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+155)
Bryce Young Anytime Touchdown (+550)
As for Bryce Young, I can’t really get a read on his scrambling in recent weeks. There are times when it’s a great matchup, like in Week 15 vs. the Bucs — who allow the second-most rushing TDs to QBs — and Young doesn’t tuck and run.
Then there are weeks when he’s facing a team like the Seahawks, who rank No. 1 in defensive DVOA against the run, and he scores the Panthers’ only TD of the game. Make it make sense.
All that aside, I’m going to run back Young here because this is still a good matchup.
The Bucs are pretty strong against inside runs with DT Vita Vea but have struggled to contain outside runs, which is where Young tends to do his damage on scrambles this season.
Although he didn’t scramble much in Week 16, Young has shown more assertiveness with his legs in recent weeks, with over 30% of his total scrambles this season coming over the last four games.
The Bucs love to blitz, and Young’s scramble rate increases when he’s blitzed — at +600, I’ll take a shot on Young calling his own number near the goal line.
Pick: Bryce Young Anytime Touchdown Scorer (+550)
Editor's Note: An anytime touchdown parlay is not the author's formal recommendation. These touchdown picks have value as straight bets.
