Panthers vs. Saints Betting Line – Sunday Night Football
Carrie Stroup here with your Panthers vs. Saints betting line for Sunday Night Football. Be sure to claim your FREE $100 bet and wager on this game LIVE right to the final play at Sportsbook.com here.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: New Orleans -3 (-115) & 46
Opening Line & Total: Saints -4.5 & 48.5
The Panthers go for their ninth straight win on Sunday night when they face the Saints who are looking to stay perfect at home.
Carolina defeated the Buccaneers 27-6 last week in what was its eighth straight victory. New Orleans, on the other hand, went on the road to Seattle on Monday night where it got clobbered, 34-7. Last season, the Panthers won-and-covered in both of their games against New Orleans, scoring 39.5 PPG in that pair of victories. But New Orleans had won each of the previous four meetings, hanging 31.3 PPG on Carolina in those matchups. Both teams have ultra favorable betting trends in this game. Over the past two years, the Panthers are 7-0 ATS as a road underdog and 9-0 ATS after allowing 99 or less rushing yards in consecutive games. However, in the past three seasons, the Saints are 17-4 ATS as a home favorite, and 8-1 ATS in home games off of a road loss. RB DeAngelo Williams (quad) and DE Charles Johnson (knee) are questionable in this game for Carolina, while New Orleans has no new injuries of major concern.
Carolina is one of the hottest teams in the league, outscoring opponents 211 to 99 (14.0 PPG margin) during its eight-game win streak. The Panthers are winning games with an old-school style of running the ball and playing dominant defense. They rush for 129.3 YPG (9th in NFL) and have allowed just 289.8 total YPG (2nd in NFL), successfully defending the air (209.6 passing YPG, 6th in league) and the ground (80.3 rushing YPG, 2nd in NFL). They also lead the league in scoring defense (13.1 PPG), red zone defense (32% TD rate) and defensive time of possession (26:47). That also means the offense is the league's top ball-control unit with a time of possession of greater than 33 minutes. QB Cam Newton is turning the ball over less this season than in the past, throwing for 2,616 yards with 19 TD to just 11 INT. He has also rushed for 447 yards (5.5 YPC) and six touchdowns. TE Greg Olsen has had five receptions in three straight games for Carolina. As long as the Panthers limit their turnovers (7 total giveaways during 8-game win streak), they are going to be a very tough team to beat.
The Saints were blown out on Monday night in Seattle, but they have still yet to lose a game in New Orleans where they are 5-1 ATS and beating teams by an average score of 33 to 16, and outgaining them 451 to 272. QB Drew Brees struggled in the last game, throwing for just 147 yards and one touchdown, but he has been outstanding at the Superdome this year with a 74% completion rate, 357 passing YPG, 19 TD and just 3 INT. But this team is more than just Brees and the passing offense, as the Saints' defense has been excellent this season, allowing just 206.7 yards per game through the air (4th in NFL). They allowed Russell Wilson to throw for 310 yards and 3 TD against them on Monday, however, and will need to shore up their coverage before they take on the Panthers. Leading rusher RB Pierre Thomas (486 rush yards, 4.0 YPC, 4 TD) didn’t rush for a single yard on four carries against Seattle, and the Saints will need to get him going as he had 80+ total yards in each of their seven previous games. Seattle is tough to beat on the road, so New Orleans would be best-served to forget Monday's loss and remain consistent in its preparation for the Panthers.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com
