Cardinals at Panthers: Game preview, odds, prediction
By John Buhler
The Carolina Panthers will host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday afternoon in Week 8. Here is a game preview, the betting odds, and a final score prediction.
In what should have been a highly anticipated Week 8 showdown, here is the game that Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons game was flexed with. The Carolina Panthers will host the Arizona Cardinals at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 30 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. FOX will have the telecast.
This was supposed to be a huge rematch of the 2015 NFC Championship Game, but neither team is playing all that well in 2016. The Cardinals have to travel cross-country at 3-3-1 after an embarrassing tie at home on Sunday Night Football to the rival Seattle Seahawks. Arizona was clearly the better team, but that’s not what the score indicated.
Carolina is coming off a bye in Week 7. The Panthers needed it badly, as Carolina is an atrocious 1-5 on the season. It’s still surprising to think this team has lost six of its last seven games since making it to Super Bowl 50 at 15-1. This Panthers’ secondary is all sorts of bad in 2016.
Odds
Point Spread: Carolina -3
Money line: Carolina -135, Arizona +115
Over/Under: 47.5
According to OddsShark.com, the Panthers are laying three points at home to the Cardinals. The associated money lines are Carolina -135 and Arizona +115. This game’s over/under comes in at 47.5 combined points.
Here are a few trends to know about the Cardinals: 1.) Arizona is 3-7 against the spread in its last 10 games. 2.) The Cardinals are 13-5-1 straight up in their last 19 games. 3.) They have gone under in four of their last six games. 4.) Arizona is 6-2 straight up in its last eight road games. 5.) The Cardinals have gone over in four of their last five road games.
Here are the trends to know with the Panthers: 1.) Carolina is 1-6 straight up and against the spread in its last seven games. 2.) The Panthers 18-7 straight up in their last 25 games. 3.) They have gone over in seven of their last 10 games. 4.) Carolina has gone 7-2 against the spread in their last nine home games.
Go with a slight over in this one. Arizona is tired after playing a fifth quarter on Sunday Night Football. A well-rested Panthers team should be healthy enough to put up some points on offense. This should be a close game, probably a stay away with the point spread. Expect it to be decided by one score.
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This game will come down to if Carolina can run the football or not. If they can, the Panthers should be able to get to 2-5 on the season. Arizona is the better team by playing in Charlotte early after a Sunday Night Football game that ended in a tie probably swings this in Carolina’s favor.
Pick: Panthers 28, Cardinals 24