The Las Vegas Raiders are favored away from home for just the second time since 2018 as they visit the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The Raiders were blown out 34-3 by the New York Jets as 3.5-point road chalk the last time that happened on November 24, 2019.
- Date/Time: September 13, 1 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
- TV Coverage: CBS
- Sportsbook Odds: Panthers -1 | O/U 46.5 (Line History)
- Raiders vs Panthers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Maybe it is their new home in Vegas, but the betting public has pounded the Raiders in turning them from 1-point road underdogs to 3-point favorites at most sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.
The Panthers are also moving on in a different direction, as quarterback Cam Newton and head coach Ron Rivera are gone, so they may be fade material too with the potential for another Super Bowl appearance in the rear-view mirror.
Las Vegas News & Notes
The Raiders have a new energy about them in Sin City despite the COVID-19 pandemic preventing them from playing in front of fans there this season. Whether or not that travels with them to Charlotte this weekend remains to be seen, but one player who seems to have new life is quarterback Derek Carr.
Carr is hoping the team’s commitment to an explosive offense under head coach Jon Gruden will help him perform at a higher level in his new home. That said, rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III may not become a star in his very first NFL game, so the expectations should be tempered a bit. Vegas and bettors might be pumped about this team, but the harsh reality is the team lost five of its last six games to close out last season.
Carolina News & Notes
A new head coach (Matt Rhule) and starting quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) are usually something a team and its fan base should be excited about, but these are not the Arizona Cardinals of last year. Regardless, Rhule brings an innovative mind to the Panthers from Baylor, and he will have some help from former LSU passing game co-ordinator Joe Brady as his offensive co-ordinator.
That duo will work hard to keep Bridgewater upright and healthy, as well as star running back Christian McCaffrey, who led Carolina in rushing yards (1,387) and receptions (116) a year ago. Bridgewater proved to be a viable starter in 2019 while filling in for the injured Drew Brees with the New Orleans Saints, although he will likely find that the Panthers do not have nearly the same weapons as his old team.
Betting Pick: Panthers +3.5
Usually, you may fade this type of situation for Carolina with new personnel in key roles like a head coach and quarterback. However, both Rhule and Bridgewater appear to be good hires – and smart ones at that. The Panthers may not win a lot of games this season, but they are in a good spot here to pull off the upset against an overrated road favorite.
- The Raiders are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 road games in September.
- The Raiders are 1-3 SU and 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 road games as favorites.
- The OVER is 8-3 in Carolina’s last 11 games vs the AFC.
