Panthers vs. Falcons 2014 picks and predictions: Atlanta slight favorites among experts

The awful, terrible, atrocious NFC South race is finally getting put out of its misery. The Panthers and Falcons conclude the regular season with a showdown in Atlanta and one of them will walk away as division champs with a playoff ticket.

With the help of the stumbling Saints, Atlanta and Carolina have come back from the dead. After going 2-7-1 through the middle stretch of the season, the Panthers have reeled off three consecutive wins. The Falcons, who entered November 2-6, kept their hopes alive last week by knocking off New Orleans in the Superdome.

The last time these two met was in Week 11, when the Falcons eked out a 19-17 win in Charlotte. That game saw Cam Newton throw two fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally back from a 16-3 hole, but Matt Bryant drilled a 44-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining to hand Atlanta the win.

Here at SB Nation, our panel is giving the Falcons a slight edge.