There’s Always Next Year For The Carolina Panthers
The Falcons vs Panthers Odds Have Some Sneaky Value This Weekend
The Atlanta Falcons are still a game under .500. However, they’re sitting in first place in the NFC South with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, despite losing against the Buccaneers last weekend.
The other NFL team in the NFC South is eliminated. That’s right! The Carolina Panthers are just 1-12 and can’t make the postseason even if they win their next four games.
Therefore, the Panthers genuinely have nothing to play for. They’re not even going to get the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft because they traded that pick away to bring in this year’s No. 1 pick, Bryce Young.
However, the Panthers are home against the Falcons this week. Atlanta’s fighting for an NFL playoff spot, while the Panthers are fighting for some growth.
Therefore, Carolina is only a 3-point underdog. Meanwhile, oddsmakers have thrown out a 34.5 line for the total, with the Over juiced to -115.
Can the Panthers ruin their rival’s dreams this weekend?
Let’s take a look at the Falcons vs Panthers odds for this NFC South matchup.
Falcons vs Panthers 
Day/Time:
Location: Bank of America Stadium
Streaming: FOX
Falcons vs Panthers Odds & Trends
Carolina has gone 2-9-2 against the spread this NFL season. While that record is better than their 1-12 record straight up, it’s clear that the Panthers have truly been bad this season.
Carolina has gone 2-7-1 against the spread over their last ten games. But they’re also 1-9 and have watched the Under hit in seven of ten games. That’s due to the offense struggling. In the last five games, the Panthers haven’t scored more than 18 points behind Bryce Young.
On the other hand, the Falcons haven’t been much better against the spread. Atlanta has covered only four of 13 games. The Falcons have also hit the Under in nine of 13 matchups.
While the Falcons have a 4-3 record at home, Atlanta is just 2-3 on the road. Carolina’s lone win this season came at home, where they’ll play this game.
However, the Falcons already earned a win over the Panthers earlier this year, with a 24-10 win on September 10 as a 3.5-point favorite.
Desmond Ridder’s Progress
The Atlanta Falcons began the season with Desmond Ridder at quarterback. However, in the middle of the season, the Falcons had other thoughts when things weren’t going well.
Atlanta gave Taylor Heinicke a chance to start while Ridder struggled. But when Heinicke got hurt and couldn’t play, Ridder was given another opportunity to start.
He never gave his starting job back to Heinicke after that.
Ridder only has a 40.3 QBR. He’s also thrown for nine touchdowns with nine interceptions. He hasn’t been the best quarterback in the NFL this season. He’s not even in the top 15. However, Ridder had his best game as a Falcons quarterback last week against the Buccaneers.
Ridder threw for 347 yards after completing 65% of passes. His quarterback rating was 90.3, and his QBR of 54.5 was one of the highest he’s had this season. The former Cincinnati Bearcat still made some mistakes that he wishes he could take back in the 29-25 loss. But his performance was good enough to excite Falcons fans about the future.
Is Bryce Young a Bust?
It’s too early to call a rookie quarterback a bust.
Bryce Young hasn’t been given a fair opportunity. The reality is that Young doesn’t have much help around him. He’s also had multiple coaches calling plays and so much inconsistency throughout the season.
His head coach was fired midway into the season in his first season. That’s how bad things are in Carolina. It’s not just Young’s fault. However, Young should still shoulder some of the blame.
His QBR of 29.6 is 29th in the NFL. Like Ridder, he’s thrown nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, but he’s also missed so many wide-open targets.
He’s not a bust yet. However, the Panthers need to bring in an offensive mind as the head coach who can help make Young confident again.
Don’t Sleep On The Falcons!
The Atlanta Falcons saw their two-game winning streak snap after a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend. The Falcons scored 25 points but allowed 29 and couldn’t escape with the home win.
Atlanta’s been inconsistent all year. However, the defense has allowed only 20.69 points per game. When the offense can score more than three touchdowns, there’s a good chance that the Falcons will win.
While it didn’t happen against the Buccaneers, it’ll happen against the Panthers.
Atlanta’s young NFL players are starting to come around. Second-year player Drake London hauled in ten catches on 11 targets for 172 yards for Atlanta last weekend. Kyle Pitts, another second-year player, added three catches but scored a touchdown with 57 yards receiving.
Meanwhile, Bijan Robinson added a touchdown despite earning only 3.4 yards a carry on ten attempts. He also had five catches for 54 yards.
Those three and Ridder on the Atlanta Falcons roster are the young core for the Falcons. Seeing those four succeed is major for the Falcons.
Meanwhile, the Panthers won’t be able to match the Falcons. Carolina has earned 15.15 points per game, while the offense has added about 166 yards in the air and 104.31 yards on the ground.
Atlanta’s run defense has played well. Meanwhile, the passing defense has only allowed 203 yards per game this season.
After Young went 13 for 36 from the field against the Saints last weekend, it’s time to fade the Panthers for the rest of the season.
This isn’t the most highly anticipated NFL game. But the NFL point spreads have value. After looking at the Falcons vs Panthers odds, let’s roll with the Falcons at -3.
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