Saints vs. Panthers, 1/3/21 NFL Week 17 Betting Predictions

Saints vs. Panthers Week 17 Prediction

The Saints can still clinch the top seed in the NFC playoff field but they’ll need to beat their NFC South rivals the Panthers at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, plus get some help from the Bears to beat the Packers. Will New Orleans cover this afternoon in Charlotte?

Game Snapshot

113 New Orleans Saints (-6) at 114 Carolina Panthers (+6); o/u 46.5

4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, January 3, 2021

Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

TV: FOX

New Orleans Saints DFS Spin

Drew Brees completed 19-of-26 passes for 311 yards and two interceptions in the Saints' Week 16 win over the Vikings. Brees couldn't have looked better when handing the ball off to Alvin Kamara who carried his fantasy managers to a championship by scoring six times. As a passer, Brees was up-and-down. He was mostly accurate underneath and over the middle, but he made multiple crucial mistakes when putting balls into tight windows. Brees' massively underthrown target to Marquez Callaway down the seam adds to the narrative that the 41-year-old can't throw deep anymore. It's a legit concern for the Saints' Super Bowl chances, although the ground game and defense still make them one of the league's best all-around teams. Brees will be a forgettable QB2 in Week 17, assuming the Saints don't rest their starters.

Carolina Panthers DFS Spin

Teddy Bridgewater completed 19-of-28 passes for 197 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Carolina's 20-13 Week 16 win over Washington. Bridgewater was under duress for a majority of his dropbacks since backup LT Trent Scott was injured and replaced by Michael Schofield, who allowed a strip-sack-fumble to rookie DE Chase Young, mid-game. Young was also responsible for hitting Bridgewater's arm and forcing the quarterback's lone interception. Bridgewater's 14-yard touchdown to Robby Anderson was still probably enough to get fans off his back for another week after he had gone scoreless through December to that point. The Panthers began the day holding the No. 5 pick and ended at No. 9, setting a precedent for coach Matt Rhule's ongoing rebuild ahead of the team's Week 17 regular season finale against the Saints.

Saints vs. Panthers Betting Prediction

The Saints are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six games against the Panthers, but they’re 5-1 against the number in their last six trips to Charlotte and the road team has cashed in 28 of the last 39 meetings between these two teams. The Saints have also covered in six of their last seven divisional games, are 5-1 against the number in their last six games as a favorite and have cashed in five of their last six games when coming off a win as well.

The Panthers, meanwhile, are just 2-8-1 against the spread in their last 11 home games, are 2-5 against the number in their last seven games within the division and are 2-5-1 at the betting window in their last eight games as a home dog.

NFL WEEK 17 BETTING PREDICTION: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS -6