Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints, 12/17/18 MNF Predictions

Panthers vs. Saints Spread Prediction

The New Orleans Saints are laying a touchdown on the road tonight to the host Carolina Panthers. Will the Saints cover the point spread versus their NFC South rivals or will the Panthers show up and play well for the first time in weeks? Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET.

Game Snapshot

331 New Orleans Saints at 332 Carolina Panthers

8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, December 17

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Public Betting Trends

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Saints are 6-point favorites to beat the Panthers. The total, meanwhile, sits at 50 points. As of this writing, 64% of the public betting tickets are on the Saints to cover the point spread.

New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara rushed 12 times for 51 yards while catching 5-of-6 targets for 36 yards in Sunday's Week 14 win over the Buccaneers. Kamara found little room to run on the afternoon and had one fewer rush than Mark Ingram on the day. He added a rushing two-point conversion in the second half, but his day was largely non-descript. Kamara was right behind Michael Thomas is passing game opportunities, but hasn't eclipsed 40-yards receiving in a game since Week 10. Kamara will enter Week 15 as a lower-end RB1 on the road against the Panthers.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton (shoulder) was left off the Week 15 injury report. Newton hasn't looked right playing through shoulder issues the last few weeks. The Panthers continued to manage his practice reps, but his status was never in doubt. Newton is our 12th-ranked quarterback for Week 15.

NFL Betting Trends

New Orleans

The Saints are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine conference games and are 16-6 ATS in their last 22 games versus fellow NFC South rivals.

Carolina

The Panthers are 0-5 against the number in their last five games overall and 2-6 against the spread in their last eight conference games.

Prediction

There’s not a lot to love about the Panthers right now. They’ve lost five straight games and are 0-5 at the betting window over that same span. Cam Newton’s accuracy has taken a hit because of the on-going shoulder injury that he’s dealing with and they’ve struggled to cover the spread versus the Saints, losing all four games ATS in Carolina the previous four meetings. That said, this is a lot of points to lay on a road team in a divisional matchup. Drew Brees has also struggled in his last two games, including a week ago in Tampa but most didn’t notice because the Saints got a late front-door cover when Mark Ingram broke off a long touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Panthers are 8-3 against the spread in their last 11 home games.

NFL Week 15 Monday Night Football Prediction: Carolina Panthers +6