NFL Picks: Panthers vs. Texans Best Bets for Thursday Night Football

The Carolina Panthers will go on the road in Week 3 as they try to keep their undefeated season intact against the Houston Texans and rookie quarterback Davis Mills. 

Mills will get the start for the injured Tyrod Taylor, who will miss at least the next three weeks after the team placed him on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. 

WynnBET Sportsbook currently has the Panthers as eight-point road favorites, with the total set at 43.0. Carolina is coming into the matchup with the best defense in the NFL in terms of points and yards allowed. 

How are you planning to bet this Thursday night tilt? If you’re looking for picks, our editors have you covered with their best bet of the night, with all odds via WynnBET.

D.J. Moore OVER 5.5 Receptions (+110)

Although Sam Darnold reconnected with his old New York Jets teammate, Robby Anderson, in Carolina, D.J. Moore is the one he has chemistry with. Moore already has 19 targets and 14 receptions through two games this year. Moore has become a focal point for the Panthers and Thursday should show that. 

Houston is in the bottom half of the league in opponent passing yards per game, which bodes well for Moore and the crew. Moore has had at least six receptions in four of his last seven games. I’ll take Moore to have a great game as the Panthers try to go to 3-0. -- Donnavan Smoot

Robby Anderson OVER 44.5 Receiving Yards (-125)

Earlier this week, our guy Donnavan Smoot wrote how the oddsmakers aren’t expecting much from Robby Anderson this week, but these are the matchups where I love to go the other direction.

The Texans, while looking far more competent than any of us could have expected, will still give up big chunk plays on defense, along with 52 points through two games. That’s exactly what Robby Anderson does. Lovie Smith defenses tend to force turnovers with aggressive play from their corners and safeties, so all it takes is one perfectly executed double-move and Anderson should be off to the races.

The first week, he had the long 57-yard reception for his only catch of the game, but even with less yards in Week 2, he was targeted twice as many times. His numbers will start to go up, and this is the week it happens. -- Ben Heisler

Christian McCaffrey OVER 5.5 Receptions (+104)

Think the Panthers missed McCaffrey last season? The do-it-all running back has posted 324 combined rushing and receiving yards on 59 (!!) touches in the first two games of the season and he enters an easy matchup with Houston in Week 3. 

Matt Rhule and Sam Darnold have done a great job making McCaffrey a weapon in the passing game, as he’s made 14 catches for 154 yards through the first two games of the season, amassing 15 targets. 

He just missed going over 5.5 catches in Week 2 with five grabs, but he also missed a couple possessions with cramps. CMC is going to destroy this Houston defense in the air and on the ground, and I would expect a similar stat line to his Week 1 performance where he had 187 total yards and nine catches. -- Peter Dewey

Houston Texans +8 vs. Carolina Panthers (-110)

I'm all aboard the Davis Mills train. The former Stanford quarterback had a solid career in college, and I think people are underestimating him.

The Texans are being undervalued and people are overreacting to the loss of Tyrod Taylor. Their offense ranks 16th in yards per play at 5.6, and their defense is 21st in opponent yards per play. Not great, but not terrible! They certainly aren't as bad as people thought they would be entering the season.

They're a home underdog of over a touchdown, and everyone wants to praise Sam Darnold for being competent through the first two games. I know what Darnold is like as a quarterback when the lights are bright, and he's going to start seeing ghosts again on Thursday night.

Give me the Texans and the points in this one. -- Iain MacMillan

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