Saints Look to Put Panthers Down for a Third Time this Season

Back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2013 season, the New Orleans Saints are paired up with a familiar foe in the wild-card round with their divisional rival, the Carolina Panthers, in town on Sunday. The Saints laid the smack down in two games vs the Panthers this season, winning by double digits in each game while scoring 65 total points. After originally Sportsbook at -4, the Saints now find themselves as a 6.5-point favorite.

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Panthers with wins over the likes of the Patriots and Vikings mixed in with a handful of underwhelming performances. The Saints, on the other hand, have just kept marching (sorry) all season long and are on a seven-game home winning streak where they’ve won by an average of 11 points. The Saints have been a headache for visiting defenses as they lead the NFL in points per game at home (30.1), while the Panthers defense has been rather mediocre, allowing 26.6 points per game in their last three road games.

Those two losses to the Saints might be all the evidence needed to fade the Panthers, but if you’re looking for more, all you need to do is take a look at net yards per play. Over its last three games, Carolina ranks 31st in the league in net yards per play while the Saints rank seventh over their last three and first over the course of the entire season. There’s definitely a lot working against the Panthers, but don’t forget they were an excellent bet as an underdog this season, going 5-2 SU and ATS.

Taking a look at the 48.5 point total, bettors will be interested to know that the total has gone OVER in six of the last seven games between these teams. Those games had an average combined score of 57.1.

Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick

Betting fans looking to back the visiting Carolina Panthers in this one found them as 4-point underdogs earlier in the week, while the total was settling in the neighborhood of 49 at shops such as Sportsbook.

A 28-17 result in favor of the Saints was the prediction by the OddsShark handicapping pick engine earlier this week. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.

Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

New Orleans battles the Carolina Panthers, currently with an 11-5 mark (9-6-1 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, important for totals betting, are 9-7 for the Saints and 9-7 for the Panthers. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and New Orleans vs Carolina injuries news.

The Saints-Panthers odds would favor the Saints if the betting lines were set according to power ranks. New Orleans is rated No. 6 in our latest OddsShark poll, while the Panthers sit at No. 13.

Statistical Matchup

Offensively, the game matches up the New Orleans Saints' No. 4-ranked offense (28 PPG) against a Carolina Panthers defense that ranks No. 11 at 20.44 PPG. The Saints passing attack has averaged 262.06 yards per game, more than the Panthers give up through the air (229.06 YPG on average).

In comparing defenses, the Panthers own the league's No. 1-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 81.38 yards per game when on the road. New Orleans, on the other hand, rates No. 10 this week in generating rushing yards at home.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

In their last game, the Panthers were Week 17 losers coming out on the wrong end of a 22-10 score against Atlanta.

In their last game, the Saints were Week 17 losers coming out on the wrong end of a 31-24 score against Tampa Bay.