Cam Newton returns from injury this week for the Carolina Panthers and will start against the Detroit Lions. The Panthers are 2.5-point favorites at home, according to OddsShark. The over/under is set at 43.5.
Lions vs. Panthers odds 2014: Cam Newton returns for favored Carolina
Carolina and Detroit are playoff hopefuls in the loaded NFC and square off in a key matchup.
Cliff McBride
The Lions are 1-4 in their last five games against the spread and are 5-15-1 versus the spread in their previous 21 road dates. Carolina is 12-2 in its last 14 games, and in its previous 11 contests the team has seen the point total go UNDER on 10 occasions.
Newton is coming back after suffering a fractured rib against the New England Patriots in the preseason. For the first time in his NFL career, Newton missed a start and was replaced by Derek Anderson. Anderson played well in the Panthers' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 24 of 34 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin had a big game, catching six passes for 92 yards and a score.
The Lions destroyed the New York Giants on Monday night, winning 35-14 and controlling the ball for over 36 minutes. Matthew Stafford found Calvin Johnson in the end zone twice as part of Johnson's 164-yard explosion. Stafford threw for 346 yards with no picks, while Eli Manning was intercepted twice by Detroit. George Johnson also shined for the Lions, racking up 1.5 sacks.
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