New England vs Carolina Betting?
Red Hot Panthers Look to Keep the Roll Going – Host Patriots Monday Night
The Carolina Panthers, winner of five straight games head back home this week looking to take another step toward a possible playoff run this year.
New England (7-2) at Carolina (6-3)
When: 8:40 PM ET, Monday, November 18, 2013
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Broadcast: ESPN
Patriots vs. Panthers Betting Lines from betonline.com
New England Patriots +2½ -105 +120 Ov 46 -110
Carolina Panthers -2½ -115 -140 Un 46 -110
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The problem – the New England Patriots, off a bye come to town in attempts to squash a little of the momentum Carolina has built up. Carolina is coming off a character building cross-country win over San Francisco in Week 10 while the Pats has the week off and had won two straight before their bye.
The New England Patriots are finally starting to resemble the Super Bowl caliber team we have grown to love (or hate!!!). After a slow start comparatively for the offense, Tom Brady has slowly been rounding into form – the health of Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola definitely has a lot to do with it.
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Brady has passed for 2,256 yards and 13 touchdowns and has done so with largely a rag-tag bunch of pass catchers. Credit Brady and Belichek for getting the absolute most from what on paper looked like a pretty meager lineup.
The running game has really helped Brady out. Stevan Ridley has been terrific – 514 yards and six touchdowns on the ground – a healthy 4.4 yards per carry average. The Pats are a balanced offense – luckily they were forced to become one because of the unflattering passing game.
Defensively the Patriots have been just OK this year and will have their hands full against the Panthers this week. The Pats are 21st in the league in total yards allowed per game and an ugly 30th in rush yards per game. On the flip side, New England is seventh in TD prevention and is 12th against the pass. New England had better have worked on their rush D over the bye – the Panthers will run all day long!
The Carolina Panthers are 6-3 and they look every bit the playoff contender they had hoped to be. Last week was the pinnacle – a 10-9 win against San Francisco on the road in a game that their stellar defense allowed just 151 yards of total offense and recorded six sacks against Colin Kaepernick.
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It has largely been the defense that has carried Carolina this year. They are second in total yards allowed per game as well as second in points allowed and rushing yards allowed – one of the best units in the game week in and week out this year.
As good as the defense has been for Carolina this year, Cam Newton is getting most of the headlines and rightfully so. Newton has thrown for 1,970 yards and 13 TDs while adding another 268 yards and four scores on the ground. He is taking care of the ball, making smart decisions and finally taking this team to a different level.
Steve Smith has been good but the emergence of Greg Olsen has made a huge difference for the Panthers this year – 450 yards and 3 TDs has been a nice compliment to a Panthers running game that has also rediscovered its form. Jonathan Stewart is back to give the Panthers a good change of pace, Mike Tolbert has been terrific when called upon and DeAngelo Williams has 565 yards and 2 TDs on the ground this year.
Long story short – the Panthers have become a well rounded team – a poor man’s Seattle Seahawks.
Monday Night Football Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• Over is 20-9 in NE last 29 road games.
• Over is 44-21 in NE last 65 games overall.
• Under is 7-2 in CAR last 9 games on grass.
New England is 8-1 ATS the last nine times it’s been lined as an underdog, and 9-3 ATS the last 12 times it’s played on Monday Night Football.
The Panthers enter this game as hot as any team in the NFL but Belichek, off the bye, is absolute magic – giving him an extra week to prepare doesn’t seem fair. Because of that I think we see a bit of a letdown from Carolina this week.
The Patriots are in that elite class of NFL teams and although Carolina may be knocking on the door, they are not there yet.
Look to Brady and the boys to pull out a close victory in this one. On National TV, after their bye, it is hard to imagine New England being denied.
Pick: New England Patriots +2 1/2
