Carolina Panthers Betting Odds – NFL Football Future Lines
Let’s take a look at the numbers:
betED NFL Football Betting Odds – Carolina Panthers Odds To Win NFC South – +230
Season Over/Under Win Total Betting Odds From beted.com – 8.5
No one wants to be judged on their worst day, and the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2009 wasn’t John Fox’s best three hours on the planet. Fox’s Panthers were outplayed and outcoached by the inferior Cardinals and lost by 20 points at home in the NFC playoffs.
Fox hasn’t said much about that game in which he basically neutered his team’s powerful running game and chose to let Jake Delhomme’s arm decide Carolina’s playoff fortunes.
Delhomme’s 5-interception, 1-fumble performance speaks for itself.
But that was then and this is now, and the Panthers look like at least even money in the NFC South and a decent bet to cover 8.5 wins.
A rocky early schedule (5 of the first 7 on the road) and adjusting to new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks could make things awkward early on, but eventually the Panthers’ two-headed running back system of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will wear teams down. Delhomme is Delhomme, which is to say not quite as good as he thinks he is, but Fox usually can reign him in. WR Steve Smith is still a terrific playmaker, but the move to a run-first offense limited him to 6 TDs last season.
No one seems to know what to make of Julius Peppers, who was franchised and may or may not sign a long-term deal. If Peppers is still motivated – and one-year contacts have a habit of making players motivated — he can be effective on the D-Line (where the Panthers want him) or at linebacker (where Peppers yearns to be).
Surprising stat: In the playoff loss to Arizona, Delhomme’s QB rating was 13.9.
Team strengths: In a division that is not very good at stopping the run, Stewart and Williams will earn their keep. Smith may pout as the offense looks to move the chains first and go deep second, but that’s life in the NFL.
Team Weakness: The defensive line, even with Peppers, won’t pressure too many quarterbacks. But the real problem could be at quarterback, where Delhomme doesn’t appear to be benefitting too much from one of the league’s best running games.
Panthers 2009 Season Win Total Prediction – 10
Next Up: Arizona Cardinals
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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel writer from Massachusetts.
3 replies on “Carolina Panthers 2009 NFL Football Future Lines”
It is hard to know what to expect from the Panthers this season. I’m still trying to figure out how they won 12 games last season, but completely fell apart at home in the playoffs.
The NFC South is still pretty wide open, so they should still be a factor to win the division.
They’ll go as far as Jake Delhomme’s QB rating takes them
The Panthers will keep the same formula they have had with a talented backfield and strong defense. QB Jake Delhomme will continue to struggle with his inability to make the plays necessary to win games. The Panthers receiving core will look the same with a resigned Mushin Muhammad and a returning Steve Smith. Carolina has two talented RBs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart, allowing the Panthers to still move the ball effectively. The defense is solid and DE Julius Peppers will be a Pro Bowler in 2009. The secondary is led by play of Chris Gamble who has produced well for the Panthers since being drafted 5 years ago. Carolina will finish the season with a record of 8-8.