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ESPN got one right this week with what promises to be a hugely important battle between two quality ranked teams. Monday Night Football betting odds for the Tampa Bay vs. Carolina game opened at Tampa Bay -3 and have remained there just about everywhere.
After leading Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 2007, Jeff Garcia lost his starting job to Brian Griese in September after missing most of training camp with a calf injury and playing poorly in a season-opening loss at New Orleans.
Instead of sulking, Garcia focused on getting healthy and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden insisted he never lost faith in him. Gruden just wanted the quarterback to revert to the player he was last season, and he gave him another chance to start when Tampa Bay faced Carolina on Oct. 12.
Garcia completed 15 of 20 passes for 173 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in a 27-3 win, and has currently led Tampa to four straight wins.
His teams have won five in a row against the Panthers, with Garcia completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 1,178 yards and nine touchdowns against three interceptions in those games.
The Bucs will be facing a Panthers defense that has been inconsistent, but has 13 sacks in its last five games. Garcia's success against Carolina is partly due to his ability to escape the pass rush, avoiding a sack against the Panthers in each of his last two games against them.
Garcia, though, has been sacked nine times in his last two contests overall.
For gamblers, it is important to note that the away team has gone 6-4 in this series but Carolina is 7-3 despite losing two of the last three games to Tampa.
There are some trends that really go against Carolina here.
The Panthers are 2-6-1 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record; 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 14; 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Sure Carolina will be looking for sweet revenge against Tampa after being destroyed earlier this season on the road by a score of 3-27. But Tampa Bay is hot right now winning 6 of their last 7 and they are on a 4 game win streak.
Gambling911.com likes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to cover the +3 point line here.
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