Panthers vs. Lions Total Prediction
Will the Detroit Lions continue their offensive struggles this week when they return home to host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 1PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
451 Carolina Panthers at 452 Detroit Lions
Sunday, November 18, 2018
1PM ET – Ford Field
TV: FOX
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Panthers are favored on the road, as they are getting odds of -4.5 points against the Lions. The over/under total is currently listed at 49.5 points. The public betting for this game currently has 80 percent going on the Panthers on the road.
Panthers coming off embarrassing loss
The Carolina Panthers had a 3-game win streak come to an end last week in a 52-21 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday Night Football. The loss moved Carolina to 6-3 on the season. The Panthers are 5-4 against the spread and 6-3 with the over. They have hit the over in three straight games.
Carolina has put up pretty good numbers this year, averaging 26.8 points per game despite only averaging 371.7 yards per game. Cam Newton has thrown for 2,086 yards and 17 touchdowns this year while rushing for 352 yards and four scores. Christian McCaffrey has been heating up lately, and he has rushed for 579 yards and four touchdowns while catching 54 passes for 439 yards and four scores. Defensively, the Panthers give up 25.8 points and 371.9 yards per game. Their pass defense is suspect, as Carolina is giving up 272.9 yards per game through the air, but they do have a good pass rush behind Mario Addison and his 7.5 sacks.
Lions a dumpster fire
The Lions have lost three straight games coming into this week, with all three losses being by double figures. Their latest loss was a 34-22 at Chicago where they trailed 26-0. The Lions are now 3-6 on the year, 5-4 against the spread and 6-3 with the over.
Detroit has been struggling on both sides of the ball lately, but the offense is most surprising. The team is averaging just 22.4 points and 367.7 yards per game on the year. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 2,385 yards and 16 touchdowns with eight interceptions, but he has been much less aggressive this year than previous seasons. The team traded Golden Tate a few weeks ago, which may not be helping. Kenny Golladay is the team’s leading receiver with 39 catches for 601 yards and four scores while rookie Kerryon Johnson has rushed for 554 yards and two scores. Defensively, the Lions are giving up 27.1 points and 381.6 yards per game. Injuries have been piling up for the unit, as cornerback Darius Slay sat out last week with a knee injury and is questionable to play on Sunday.
NFL Betting Trends
Carolina
The Panthers have hit the over in 22 of their last 27 games on fieldturf and in six of their last eight overall.
Detroit
The Lions have hit the over in five straight against winning teams and in 10 of their last 14 conference games.
Prediction:
The Panthers should be pretty eager to erase the loss to the Steelers game from their memory and that shouldn’t be difficult against this Detroit defense. The Lions are struggling to stop anyone right now. I expect Carolina to score early and often in this one, which should open the door for the Lions to make a second half rally against a prevent defense and push the game to a high total. It has become somewhat of a Lions’ tradition.
NFL Prediction: Panthers/Lions Over 49.5