The Carolina Panthers enter 2015 as the two-time defending NFC South champions and will open their season on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday as small favorites after closing out last year with a 2-0-1 mark against the spread.
The Panthers won the division despite finishing the year under .500 and used a four-game winning streak at the end of the regular season to hold off the New Orleans Saints.
Carolina went 2-2 ATS in those games and will be without leading receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last month.
The Jaguars actually covered their last three games to finish 2014 and had three wins overall under then-second-year head coach Gus Bradley. Jacksonville won four games the previous season, and Bradley hopes to take the next step in 2015 with second-year quarterback Blake Bortles leading the offense.
But in September games, they are riding a nine-game losing skid and covered the spread zero times in those games!
The Jaguars were underdogs in 42 straight games before they were favored versus the Tennessee Titans in Week 16 last year, making the season opener the 44th time in 45 games they will be dogs.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Carolina Panthers betting odds line opened as -2.5-point favorites in this one at most sportsbooks tracked here at Odds Shark (including Sportsbook), while the total was hovering around 43.5 at most shops.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pick a potential 23-19 result in favor of the Panthers. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Carolina Panthers vs Jacksonville Jaguars Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Jacksonville Jaguars currently sport a record of 3-13, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 6-9-1 ATS. The Carolina Panthers are 8-9-1 and 9-8-1 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Jacksonville Jaguars post a 8-8 over under record this season, while the Carolina Panthers have gone 10-8 against the number. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Jacksonville vs Carolina injuries news.
According to the Power Rankings here at Odds Shark it's the No. 28-rated Jacksonville Jaguars and the No. 22-rated Carolina Panthers in this matchup.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Jacksonville Jaguars No. 32-ranked offense (15.56 PPG) against a Carolina Panthers defense that ranks No. 20 at 23.39 PPG. The Jaguars passing attack has averaged 187.5 yards per game, less than the Panthers give up through the air (219.11 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Carolina Panthers own the league's No. 10-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 103.11 yards per game when on the road. Jacksonville, on the other hand, rates No. 12 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Panthers's last action saw them get a 2-TD performance from Cam Newton, but they were handed a 31-17 loss by Seattle at CenturyLink Field.
The Jaguars suffered a Week 17 loss against Houston in their last game, falling 23-17 at NRG Stadium.
- Carolina is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- Carolina is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
- Carolina is 2-5-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Carolina's last 8 games on the road
- Jacksonville is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
- Jacksonville is 6-11-2 ATS in its last 19 games
- Jacksonville is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Jacksonville's last 6 games
Next Betting Matchups
Carolina home to Houston, Sunday, September 20th
Jacksonville home to Miami, Sunday, September 20th
