Panthers at Falcons: Game preview, odds, prediction
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons host the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers in Week 4. Here is a preview of the game, the betting odds, and a final score prediction.
The Atlanta Falcons (2-1) will host their NFC South rival in the Carolina Panthers (1-2) in Week 4. Kickoff from the Georgia Dome is at 1:00 PM ET. FOX will have the telecast of the I-85 Rivalry game on Sunday, October 2nd.
Atlanta has won its last two games over the Oakland Raiders and the New Orleans Saints away from the Georgia Dome. The Falcons lost their home opener Week 1 to the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-24.
Carolina enters October at a disappointing 1-2. The Panthers went 15-1 last season en route to their second trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history. Carolina lost Week 1 to the Denver Broncos, beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, and lost at home in Week 3 to the Minnesota Vikings.
According to OddsShark.com, the Falcons will be a three-point underdog at home. The moneylines for this game are Atlanta +154 and Carolina -182. The over/under has increased to 50 points.
Odds
Point Spread: Atlanta +3
Moneylines: Atlanta +154, Carolina -182
Over/Under: 50
Through three games, Atlanta is 2-1 against the spread, while Carolina is 1-2. Atlanta has won six of its last eight home games to the Panthers. However, Carolina has beaten Atlanta five of the last seven times these rivals have met. This rivalry series has gone under in five of the last six times its been played at the Georgia Dome.
Carolina is desperate and needs to win this game to avoid falling to 1-3 on the year. However, take the points the Falcons are getting at home in this one. Remember that Atlanta was the only team to beat Carolina during last year’s regular season: Week 15 in Atlanta.
As for the over/under, this game should buck the trend of going under in five of the last six games. The Falcons have an elite offense, but a terrible defense. Carolina’s defense has taken a step back in 2016, but the Panthers can hold their own in a shootout.
This game is going to come down to two things: Which team will run the football better and which secondary can force more turnovers?
If Carolina doesn’t have a healthy Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, the Panthers might struggle to run the football. Atlanta has looked lost on draw plays, but if the Falcons can commit to stuffing the run they’ll have a chance.
Atlanta’s offense has great balance and that bodes well for exposing the Panthers. Carolina’s front four hasn’t looked spectacular in 2016. The Panthers secondary has never been great. However, Carolina linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis have shown a knack for getting inside of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s head.
This game will be decided out on the perimeter. Which team has the better perimeter players? That would be the Falcons. Atlanta’s two best players play on the outside in wide receiver Julio Jones and cornerback Desmond Trufant. Carolina struggles to contain Jones and Trufant is the only Pro Bowler on the Falcons defense.
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Factor in the crowd noise and this being a huge rivalry game, the Falcons upset the Panthers in Week 4 to move to 3-1 on a game-winning Matt Bryant field goal as time expires.
Pick: Falcons 30, Panthers 28