Panthers vs. Falcons, 12/8/19 NFL Week 14 Point Spreads & Predictions

Panthers vs. Falcons Week 14 Prediction

NFC South teams with nothing on the line but pride will meet in Atlanta on Sunday where the Falcons will host the Panthers at 1:00 p.m. ET. After opening as a 1.5-point favorite, the Falcons are now laying more than a field goal. Will they cover?

Game Snapshot

141 Carolina Panthers (+3.5) at 142 Atlanta Falcons (-3.5); O/U 47.5

1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 8

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Public Betting Trends

According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Falcons are receiving 60% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.

Carolina Panthers Fantasy Spin

Greg Olsen (concussion) is out for Week 14 against the Falcons. This was the expected outcome for Olsen, who was lost to a concussion in Week 13. Interim coach Perry Fewell has said the team will employ a committee at tight end with Ian Thomas, Chris Manhertz and Alex Armah all slated for reps against Atlanta. Thomas secured four catches after Olsen exited against the Redskins, making him an acceptable streamer for Week 14. Manhertz is merely a blocker while Armah is a fullback by trade.

Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Spin

Julio Jones (shoulder) will play Week 14 against the Panthers. Jones missed Atlanta's Thanksgiving showdown with New Orleans but luckily he'll be back in action for the first week of the fantasy postseason. It's been nearly three months since Julio scored his last touchdown, though obviously this isn't the time to get cute. Jones needs to be in all lineups, no questions asked.

NFL Betting Trends

Carolina

The Panthers are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven road games, but are just 2-6 against the number in their last eight games played in the month of December.

Atlanta

The Falcons have dropped 14 of their last 20 games at the betting window and are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six games as a home favorite.

Prediction

The Falcons rarely blow teams out, but they did rout the Panthers 29-3 less than a month ago in Charlotte. In fact, the Panthers have failed to cover the spread in all four of their last four games versus the Falcons and are winless at 0-4 ATS in their last four trips to Atlanta. Ownership made the decision to fire Carolina coach Ron Rivera after the Panthers looked like they gave up in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Redskins. Maybe the players will circle the wagons and play well after shame set in, but I’m not going to bank on it. I still don’t know how they upset the Saints in New Orleans, but the Falcons are largely just paper tigers. Save for their Super Bowl run three years ago, they usually only beat up on bad teams. The wheels started to fall off in Carolina after Christian McCaffrey was stopped short of the goal line in Green Bay back on November 10. Since that point, the Panthers have lost three straight and just fired their head coach. I’m fading Carolina.

NFL Week 14 Prediction: Atlanta Falcons -3.5