Panthers vs. Lions Total Pick
Will defense be the story when a pair of 3-1 teams meet on Sunday, as the Detroit Lions host the Carolina Panthers at 1PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Detroit is favored at home in this game, as the Lions are getting odds of -2.5 points against the Panthers. The over/under total for the game is listed at 42.5 points. Carolina has won five of its last six against the Lions and the two are 2-1-1 with the over in their last four meetings. These two meet from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and the game will air live on FOX.
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The Panthers are 3-1 on the season following a nice 33-30 win at New England last week. Carolina is 2-2 with the over/under total, hitting the over in their last two games. Carolina has a pretty good defense, allowing just 17.5 points and 298.5 yards per game. The offense had been struggling until last week’s outburst. Carolina now averages 19.5 points and 341 yards per game. Cam Newton has thrown for 882 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has been sacked 12 times. Jonathan Stewart is the leading rusher with 230 yards.
Detroit is coming off a 14-7 win at Minnesota last week. The Lions 3-1 on the season and 2-2 with the over/under total. They have hit the over in both home games. Detroit has had one of the best defenses in the league so far, allowing 17.5 points and 341.3 yards per game. While the yardage average is somewhat high, the defense has created 11 turnovers and has 10 sacks. Offensively, Detroit is averaging 24.8 points and 318.8 yards per game. Their rushing attack is still lackluster, but Ameer Adbullah has run for 257 yards this season. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 887 yards and seven touchdowns, but he has been sacked 12 times, including six times against Minnesota.
I think this is an ugly game, similar to Panthers vs. Bills and last week’s Lions vs. Vikings. Detroit has the better offense when healthy, but the Lions are really banged up on the offensive line that has given Stafford little chance to stay clean. Carolina hasn’t had much of an offense prior to playing the Pats and it faces a Detroit team that has been able to stuff the run and create turnovers. Newton is also coming off a week of distractions again, so I see him struggling.
NFL WEEK 5 PREDICTION: PANTHERS/LIONS UNDER 42.5