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Panthers vs. Saints Updated Odds and Prediction: What Bettors Need to Know

By Matt De Saro

The Saints are still in the playoff hunt but have to get past a struggling Panthers team in Week 17 to keep their hopes alive.
The Saints are still in the playoff hunt but have to get past a struggling Panthers team in Week 17 to keep their hopes alive. / Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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The Carolina Panthers are looking for a sweep of the New Orleans Saints after crushing them 26-7 back in Week 2. However, this is a very different Panthers team from back then.

Their best player is out for the season and the team is struggling to find a serviceable quarterback. Last week Matt Rhule thought it would be wise to play both Cam Newton and Sam Darnold and alternate between the two. It didn’t help either quarterback and really showed that me that they have no idea what to do under center.

Newton is no longer the electrical player he once was and Darnold is just not all that good. Rhule is giving Darnold the chance to start this week which is a good move by my estimation. 

The Saints are also dealing with serious issues at quarterback. After Jaemis Winston got hurt, the Saints have started three different quarterbacks with very mixed results.

Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, and Ian Book have been sharing quarterback duties but the Saints have no real No. 1 starter. Luckily for them, Hill is off the COVID-19 list and will make the start in Week 17.

Here are the updated odds for this Week 17 showdown, courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Panthers vs. Saints Updated Odds, Spread, and Total

Spread:

  • Panthers: +6.5 (-110) / Opened +7
  • Saints: -6.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Panthers: +230 / Opened +250
  • Saints: -290 / Opened -310

Total:

  • 38 (Over -110/Under -110) / Opened 38.5

Panthers vs. Saints Betting Trends

  • The Panthers are 0-5 against the spread (ATS) in their last five games. 
  • The OVER is 5-1 in the Panthers’ last six games. 
  • The Panthers are 0-5 straight up (SU) in their last five games. 
  • The Panthers are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games on the road. 
  • The OVER is 8-0 in the last eight games between these two teams in New Orleans. 
  • The UNDER is 4-1 in the Panthers’ last five games against the NFC South. 
  • The Saints are 2-4 ATS in their last six games. 
  • The OVER is 11-4 in the Saints' last 15 games against the Panthers. 

Panthers vs. Saints Prediction and Pick

This is a tough game to predict considering all the shuffling around both teams has done under center. The news that Hill will return this week for the Saints does help clear things up as he gives NO the best chance to win. Book was sacked eight times and picked off twice last week and needs a lot more time on the bench before he will be effective in the NFL. 

In my early-week preview, I was focused more on the total for this game. With so much uncertainty at quarterback and the Saints' strong defense, this game feels like a good bet to go under. Even if the total is in the 30s. 

I still like that play, but with Hill back in the starting lineup, I also really like the Saints to cover. First off, the Panthers are on a five-game losing streak and Rhule is in real danger of getting the boot come black Monday. I don't think they have the roster nor the motivation to do much about that. I

n stark contrast, the Saints are still in the hunt for the playoffs and have a lot to play for with two games left. NO is 7-2 ATS in their last nine games coming off an ATS loss while Carolina hasn’t covered a game in a month.

With NOLA getting back to full strength after 22 players hit the COVID-19 list last week I think the Saints continue their push towards the playoffs with and cover this weekend at home.

Pick: New Orleans Saints -6.5 (-110)

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