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Saints at Panthers: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

By John Buhler

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 17: Robert McClain #27 and Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers tackle Willie Snead #83 of the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on November 17, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 17: Robert McClain #27 and Tre Boston #33 of the Carolina Panthers tackle Willie Snead #83 of the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on November 17, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers will host their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a prediction.

Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season is under way. One of the games featuring NFC South rivals on Sunday will be between the Carolina Panthers (2-0) and the New Orleans Saints (0-2).

Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on September 24. FOX will have the telecast with Kenny Albert and Ronde Barber in the booth. This is the first game between NFC South teams this season. It should be an exciting one.

Carolina is looking to improve to 3-0. While the Panthers defense has played very well, the offense has left a lot to be desired. Carolina may be 2-0, but wins over the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills aren’t exactly ones to brag about. Getting to 3-0 is very much in play for the Panthers.

New Orleans is 0-2 and has to win this game to have any shot at getting back into the NFC playoffs. The Saints fell on the road in Week 1 to the Minnesota Vikings. Getting crushed at home by the New England Patriots in Week 2 wasn’t great either. The Saints have gotten off to slow starts in the last four seasons under head coach Sean Payton. Is it time for a change at the helm in the Big Easy?

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Carolina -5.5
Moneylines: Carolina -245, New Orleans +205
Over/Under: 46.5

According to SportsBook Review, the Panthers will be laying 5.5 points at home to the visiting Saints. The associated moneylines for this game are Carolina -245 and New Orleans +205. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 46.5 points.

These two teams play twice annually, so they know each others’ secrets in terms of overall strategy. Carolina has the defense to win a bunch of games this year, but will the offense be a hinderance once again? New Orleans can hang tough in a shootout, but that defense is atrocious per usual.

So what does that mean in this big NFC South game in Week 3? It means will see these two teams try to play with a certain sense of urgency. For the Panthers, they have to get it right on offense. The question remains is Cam Newton can be an accurate quarterback in a pass-first league. Can the Saints play in a game where they don’t give up at least three touchdowns?

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Take the Saints to not only cover the 5.5-point spread, but to win a one-point game on the road against a rival. Desperation is very much on the Saints’ side in this game. If they lose, they aren’t going to catch Carolina, Atlanta or Tampa Bay in the NFC South.

Prediction: Saints 24, Panthers 23

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