Panthers vs. Falcons Total Prediction
Following the firing of Ron Rivera, the Panthers will travel to Atlanta this Sunday to visit the Falcons at 1:00 p.m. ET. With the total dropping from 48 points down to 47, what’s the play for bettors?
Game Snapshot
141 Carolina Panthers (+3) at 142 Atlanta Falcons (-3); O/U 47
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 62% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Carolina Panthers Fantasy Spin
Kyle Allen completed 27-of-46 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the Panthers’ Week 13 home loss to the Redskins. Allen was fine in terms of fantasy — he also had a garbage-time rushing touchdown — but he was awful for the Panthers. It’s inexcusable to lose at home to the tanking Redskins with the amount of weapons Allen has around him. Allen missed a wide-open long touchdown to Curtis Samuel and gave up 65 yards on seven sacks. The Panthers seem unwilling to give rookie QB Will Grier starts, but Allen needs to play better to guarantee a switch isn’t eventually made. It’s become clear that Allen isn’t a franchise quarterback despite early-season praise by some other analysts. Allen, however, will be on the QB2 fantasy radar against the Falcons next week.
Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Spin
Julio Jones (shoulder) practiced again on Thursday. Jones figures to be slapped with three straight “limited” tags this week, but every sign continues to point toward him returning after missing last Thursday’s short-week tilt with the Saints. Despite his injury and touchdown drought, Jones immediately reassumes top-five status at receiver.
NFL Betting Trends
Carolina
The over is 4-1 in the Panthers’ last five games coming off a loss and is 6-2 in their last eight games overall.
Atlanta
The under is 4-0 in the Falcons’ last four games coming off a loss and is 5-1 in their last six games overall.
Prediction
The under is 10-2-1 in the last 13 meetings between these two teams, including the first matchup when the Falcons beat the Panthers 29-3 in Charlotte. We think of the Falcons as this explosive offense but because the offensive line has major issues on the right side, they don’t protect Matt Ryan and they don’t run the football effectively. On the other side, the Panthers look like they gave up a week ago in their loss to the Redskins. I expect a better overall effort out of Carolina’s defense but Atlanta has looked significantly better defensively in the second half, so this one stays under.
NFL Week 14 Prediction: Panthers/Falcons UNDER 47