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The Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys odds early on had the Panthers as a +8 ½ road dog and they were receiving the public backing on this number up to 75 percent. This was the Monday Night showdown so plenty of time to still bet on this game.
Dallas comes off a disappointing last second loss to the Giants in last week's new stadium opener, and will look to turn it around in a Monday night contest hosting Carolina. The Cowboys are listed as near double-digit favorites, but several interesting trends and 69% of the early bettors at Sportsbook.com like the Panthers against the spread. Get the latest breakdown and other key info from Sportsbook.com on the BETTING TRENDS & TEAM STATISTICS pages.
The Cowboys fell to 1-1 with the home loss to New York, putting more importance on this game with a 2-game AFC road swing on deck. They are on a nice run of 28-14 ATS bouncing back from a game in which they allowed 30+ points. The Panthers are 0-2 after losing in Atlanta and on the verge of seeing their hopes disappear before their open date, which comes next week. That could be important as Carolina is on a 6-1 ATS stretch in pre-bye week road games, and amazingly, underdogs have covered 12 straight Panthers' pre-bye week games. Dogs are also 7-2 ATS in the L9 head-to-head meetings between these teams.
Somebody should alert the Panthers the preseason is over! Carolina, 0-4 in exhibition play, continues to look nothing like a team that won 12 games and a division title in 2008. It limps into Dallas on Monday night with 28- and eight-point losses, and with a quarterback playing with little confidence. Jake Delhomme, the veteran signal caller, has 12 turnovers in the last three games.
And the Cowboys' defense is hungry. The unit led the NFL in sacks last season with 59, including 20 from DeMarcus Ware, but it hasn't been intimidating so far. The Bucs put up 24 points in the opener and didn't allow a sack or commit a turnover, and the Giants netted 33 points in Week 2 and also had no sacks or giveaways. So either Dallas is due or the absence of jettisoned veterans Greg Ellis and Zach Thomas is turning out to be greater than expected. If it continues to struggle, an error or two by Delhomme may not be enough to doom the Panthers.
Offensively, the Cowboys remain dangerous. Tony Romo produced a 140.6 quarterback rating against the Bucs and hit Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin on touchdown passes totaling 186 yards. Romo came back against the Giants and committed three costly turnovers that led to 21 points. The last time Romo saw Carolina's defense, he carved it up for 257 yards through the air, and running back Marion Barber added 110 yards and a score on the ground in a 20-13 victory in 2007. Barber however, may not play due to a quad injury.
Good thing for Dallas it's not January. It won seven straight regular-season meetings in this series, but the Panthers won playoff battles in 1996 and 2003. Romo is 2-0 versus Carolina, with the first win coming in his first pro start Oct. 29, 2006.
PREDICTION
Another loss and the Panthers will have extra time to chew on an ugly 0-3 start. The first batch of byes begins next week and they're one of four teams off. They won't want to be embarrassed on Monday night, yet often a club in this position will press too hard to play a perfect game. DALLAS 27, CAROLINA 19 *This pick is not part of the official Gambling911.com record.
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Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
