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| Carolina Panthers | Miami Dolphins |
Coming off an emotional victory Monday night over New England the Carolina Panthers, the hottest team in the NFL, hope to keep their ball rolling toward the playoffs when they visit Miami to take on the Dolphins Sunday afternoon (1 pm ET, Fox).
Carolina has won and covered six games in a row to get to 7-3 SU and into the thick of the NFC playoff situation. If the postseason started today the Panthers would be the five seed in the NFC, headed for a wild-card game against the Eagles.
Miami, meanwhile, got a much-needed victory Sunday, beating San Diego 20-16. So at 5-5 the 'Fins are basically tied with the Jets for the second AFC wild-card spot.
These two teams don't get together very often; this is the fifth meeting all-time. Miami has won the previous four encounters, most recently in 2009.
In the early betting Carolina was listed at -3.5 over the Dolphins. The Panthers are 0-4 SU and ATS lifetime vs Dolphins, but are riding a 9-3 ATS past 12 road games.
The Dolphins are 6-2-1 ATS in their past nine home games.
The Dolphins sport a record of 5-5 and 5-5 ATS heading into this matchup, while the Panthers sit at 7-3 and 7-3 ATS on the season. The over under records are 6-4 for the Dolphins and 4-6 for the Panthers.
View Carolina Panthers vs Miami Dolphins Odds and Stats.
On the Sportsbook line for this matchup, the Dolphins sat as 3.5-point underdogs at shops such as Sportsbook. The total, meanwhile, has been pegged by the oddsmakers at Sportsbook at 41.
The Dolphins - Panthers odds would favor the Panthers if the lines were set according to power ranks. Miami is rated No. 20 in our latest OddsShark poll, while the Panthers sit at No. 4. Math models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 28-18 win for the Panthers.
The Panthers were a 24-20 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Patriots. They covered the 3-point spread as favorites, while the total score (44) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. The Dolphins grabbed a Week 11 victory over the Chargers in their last game, winning 20-16 at Sun Life Stadium.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Miami's No. 24-ranked offense, averaging 21.3 PPG, against a Panthers defense that ranks No. 1 this week at 13.5 PPG. The Dolphins aerial game is averaging 219.1 yards per game, more than the Panthers secondary allows through the air, 209.5 YPG per game.
In comparing defenses, the Panthers own the league's No. 7-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 93.4 yards per game when on the road. Miami, on the other hand, rates No. 24 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
A few Panthers at Dolphins trends to consider:
Carolina is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Carolina is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Carolina is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Carolina is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Miami is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Miami is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami's last 9 games
Miami is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Next up:
Carolina home to Tampa Bay, Sunday, December 1st
Miami at New York, Sunday, December 1st
