New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers betting odds, prediction, line, preview
All the trends favor the Panthers and the point spread favors the Panthers. Hell even the prediction computer likes Carolina. Why so much interest by New Orleans bettors then?
The New Orleans Saints are just 1-4 SU and 0-5 ATS in their last five road games and they opened as three-point underdogs at Carolina in Week 16 NFL betting.
The Panthers meanwhile are 6-0 SU and 5-0-1 ATS over their last six home games, 7-2 ATS in their past nine divisional games, 4-1 ATS at home in their past five against the Saints and 8-1 SU, 7-1-1 ATS in their past nine at home.
To say the Panthers have some trends on their side along with the football betting odds is an understatement.
The fact the Saints are a money-losing 2-8 ATS in their past 10 road games just adds more fuel to the 'bet-Carolina' fire this week.
Whether it is crowd noise or a mental problem at this point, the issues that the Saints are having on the road can’t be written off as a coincidence. The Saints score just 18.4 points per game on the road compared to 32.9 points per game at home, and allow 23.1 points per game on the road compared to 15.4 points per game at home.
Dating back to last year, New Orleans is 6-9 SU and 5-10 ATS over its last 15 road games.
The Carolina Panthers on the other hand have been dominant no matter where they play. Since starting the season off 1-3 SU and ATS, the Panthers have torn through the league with a 9-1 SU and 7-2-1 ATS record.
Carolina ranks second to only Seattle in total yardage allowed and total scoring allowed on defense, holding opponents to just 14.7 points per game.
Despite Carolina’s hot streak and New Orleans’ road struggles, both teams enter this game at 10-4 SU. The Saints can clinch the NFC South and a likely first round bye with a win, while the Panthers can put themselves in the driver’s seat with one more week to go.
Motivation won’t be an issue for either team this week, as the line remained steady at top sportsbooks such as Bovada and others.
New Orleans is 5-2 SU and 3-4 ATS in its last seven games against Carolina, including a 31-13 win in New Orleans two Sundays ago. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five games between these two NFC South rivals.
The Saints showed that they could beat Carolina the last time they played them, but that was at home in New Orleans. New Orleans will have to dig deep and find their top form on the road to get a win this time around in Carolina.
Computer Prediction: 27-25 Carolina from Odds Shark NFL prediction computer
