The New Orleans Saints (-6.5) and Carolina Panthers will face off on the grass of Bank of America Stadium. ESPN has the TV rights and this Monday Night matchup gets going at 8:15 p.m. ET.
New Orleans Saints -6½ -260 ov 54
Carolina Panthers +6½ +220 un 54
Odds Provided by BetDSI.eu
Carolina is the home underdog in this NFC game and is currently being given 6.5 points. The Saints are also receiving -260 moneyline odds while the Panthers are +220. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 54 points, and there might be multiple good live betting opportunities in this contest.
The surprising Saints have gained 4.0 units so far in 2018 and are 10-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 5-8. The Panthers are down 2.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-8 ATS and have an O/U record of 7-6.
The Saints have gone 11-2 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against NFC South opponents. The Panthers are 6-7 SU overall and 1-2 SU against divisional foes.
The Saints are coming off a resounding 28-14 win over Tampa Bay last week. Drew Brees completed 24 passes on 31 attempts for 201 yards, along with one TD and an interception. Mark Ingram (52 rushing yards on 13 attempts, one TD) and Alvin Kamara (51 yards on 12 carries) led the ground attack in the win while Michael Thomas (11 receptions, 98 yards) and Kamara (five catches, 36 yards) manned the receiving duties.
Carolina most-recently fell 26-20 to Cleveland last week. The defense allowed the Browns to run for 116 yards on 21 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Jarvis Landry put up a good showing for Cleveland, posting 54 rushing yards and a score on two attempts, along with 57 yards on three catches. For Carolina, Cam Newton completed 26-of-42 passes for 265 yards and one interception. Christian McCaffrey (63 rushing yards on 16 attempts, two TDs) handled the ground attack in the defeat as Ian Thomas (nine receptions, 77 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
New Orleans has run the ball on 48.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Carolina has an overall rush percentage of 42.6 percent. The Saints have produced 125 rush yards per game (including 109 per game versus South opponents) and have 21 scores via handoffs this year. The Panthers are averaging 137 rush yards per game (156 in conference) and have 15 total rushing TDs.
The Saints offense has averaged 271 yards in the air overall (302 per game against conference opposition) and has 31 passing TDs so far. The Panthers have produced 255 pass yards per outing (294.0 in the NFC) and have 24 total pass scores.
Defensively, New Orleans has let opponents rush for an average of 78 yards and throw for 292 yards per game. The Carolina defense has allowed 269.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 97.8 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Saints have given up an ANY/A of 6.97 to opposing QBs, while the Panthers are yielding an ANY/A of 7.10.
Offensively, Brees has amassed 3,336 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 296-of-387 attempts with 30 passing scores and only three interceptions. Brees has a 9.35 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.18 over the last two outings.
The Saints will probably try to maintain tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. Along with Michael Thomas (1,178 yards, eight TDs), Alvin Kamara (757 rush yards, 11 rush TDs, 555 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and Mark Ingram (492 rush yards, five rush TDs, one receiving TD) have brought significant production to the offensive game scripts for New Orleans.
In the other locker room, Cam Newton has completed 276-of-401 passes for 2,964 yards, 22 TDs and eight INTs. Newton’s ANY/A sits at 6.84 for the season and 4.03 over his last two outings.
The Panthers also like to rely on their backfield. In addition to Christian McCaffrey (646 receiving yards, five receiving TDs), Curtis Samuel (68 rush yards, two rush TDs, 276 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and D.J. Moore (129 rush yards, 632 receiving yards, two TDs) have seen quite a few looks lately.
RELATED: Week 15 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
NFL Pick: New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
SU Winner – Saints, ATS Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Carolina offense has lost four fumbles this season while New Orleans has lost eight.
The New Orleans defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 41 times this year. Carolina has produced just 30 sacks.
As a team, New Orleans has produced 3.9 yards per carry over its past three outings and 3.4 over its last two.
Carolina has averaged 6.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 6.0 over its last two.
In its last three games, Carolina is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for New Orleans’ last game was set at 55.5. The under cashed in the team’s 28-14 win over Tampa Bay.
In its last three matchups, New Orleans is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Carolina’s last matchup was set at 48. The under cashed in the team’s 26-20 loss to Cleveland.
New Orleans has won 12 of its last 13 games SU, with a November 29th defeat to Dallas representing the only loss over that span.
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