Panthers at Patriots: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

We’ll be seeing the Carolina Panthers travel north to see the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Which team will prevail in this contest?

The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots are home for the third time in four weeks. And if their first two contests at Foxborough this season are any indication, Sunday’s tilt with the Carolina Panthers should be high scoring, if nothing else.

Bill Belichick’s club fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, 42-27. This past weekend, they outlasted the Houston Texans, 36-33. All told, the Patriots have scored 99 points and allowed nearly as many (95) during the team’s 2-1 start.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers are also sporting a 2-1 record this season. But they enter this game off a stunning 34-13 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Cam Newton had a rough go of it and hasn’t quite found himself yet. Can he and the team’s offense get well this week against a struggling New England defensive unit?

Odds

Line: Patriots (-10.5)

Over/Under: 48.5

The consensus via SportsBook Review has the defending champions as double-digit favorites. Given the fact that the totals for the Patriots’ first three games have been 69, 56 and 69 points, the over is very enticing.

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The New England Patriots’ defensive issues are evident. But is the Carolina Panthers’ team capable of fully exploiting that weakness? Newton has struggled out of the gate to find his rhythm and an offseason of healing and inactivity has certainly been a factor in the slow start. But watching Ron Rivera’s defense being exploited last week was somewhat surprising as well. The Panthers simply don’t have enough answers here.

Pick: Patriots 37, Panthers 20