TOM SELWYN (@Tom_Selwyn) returns with a best bet from Monday's night's NFL action.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers | 01:30 Monday | Sky Sports 1
So with Carolina coming into this game with a 1-3 record and without the reigning MVP – QB Cam Newton – they have still ended up being heavy favourites for this MNF matchup against Tampa Bay.
The handicap sits at -5.5 as I write this and whilst I think Carolina, even without Newton, are well capable of covering it I’m going to be looking at the connection that their backup QB – Derek Anderson – has with TE Greg Olsen.
It would be foolish to suggest that Newton doesn’t look to throw to Olsen (he went comfortably over 1,000 yards last season), there’s definitely chemistry between him and Anderson.
In last week’s loss to the Falcons, Olsen had five of his six catches from Anderson. Considering that Anderson only had about 11 minutes left to work with after Newton left the game part way through the fourth quarter it certainly reinforces the idea that Olsen is his favourite target.
I’m not just working off of less than a quarter of play to determine this though – the last time that Anderson started games was back in 2014, when he started twice, and he targeted Olson regularly in them.
Both of these games were against this week’s opponent, the Buccaneers, where Olsen piled up 18 catches for 193 yards and one TD.
Considering these stats for Olsen with Anderson under centre and his average of just over 83 yards a game so far this season, I’m happy to back him to go Over 59.9 yards this Monday night. I’ll also be having a little on him score an Anytime TD too.
Best Bets
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers – Greg Olsen to have Over 59.5 Receiving Yards (5/6 Paddy Power)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers – Greg Olsen to score a touchdown (6/4 Paddy Power)
