Falcons vs. Panthers Total Pick
Is the betting total for Sunday’s NFC South matchup between the Falcons and Panthers set too high?
Game Info
Matchup: Falcons (4-3; 3-1 on road) at Panthers (5-3; 1-2 at home)
TV: FOX, 1:00 p.m. ET
Line: Falcons -1.5 (42.5)
ODDS: According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, the over/under currently sits at 42.5 after hitting the board at 44 points. As for the point spread, the Panthers opened as 1.5-point home favorites but the line has jumped the fence and now the Falcons are 1.5-point favorites.
PUBLIC BETTING: As of this writing, public bettors are backing the Falcons at the betting window, as 54% of tickets are on Atlanta minus the points.
KEY TRENDS: The home team is 7-2 against the spread in the last nine meetings between these two teams while the Falcons are just 1-4 against the number in their last five trips to Charlotte. The underdog has also cashed in five of the last seven meetings.
OUR PREDICTION: The Falcons still aren’t right offensively. Matt Ryan avoided interceptions a week ago in East Rutherford but lost two fumbles due to wet conditions. They’re not throwing the ball deep, they haven’t gotten Julio Jones involved, and the running game needs to be more of a focal point. Carolina also has an outstanding defense, so I don’t see Ryan going into Charlotte nad lighting it up against a Panthers team that is suffocating opposing offenses again.
On the other side, Cam Newton and Co. could only generate 17 points a week ago against a Tampa Bay defense that has been dreadful this season. The Panthers also traded their top receiver in Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills earlier this week. The passing game for Carolina has been non-exsistent at times and the Panthers don’t run the ball with any consistency.
The under is 6-1-1 in the last eight meetings between these two teams and is 15-2-2 in the last 22 meetings in Charlotte.
NFL WEEK 9 OVER/UNDER PREDICTION: FALCONS/PANTHERS UNDER 42.5