The Carolina Panthers (-4) are set to take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Kickoff for this matchup is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to FOX.
Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions Betting Preview
Detroit is the home underdog in this NFC game and is currently getting 4 points. The Panthers are also receiving -170 moneyline odds while the Lions are +150. There should be some good in-game betting opportunities for this showdown, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 52. With the Lions getting 4 points, oddsmakers think that this could wind up being a 24-28 victory for the Panthers.
Sharp bettors are hammering the over, as this game’s over/under initially opened at only 50.5.
The Panthers are 5-4 against the spread (ATS) and have recorded 3.8 units so far. The team has recorded an O/U mark of 6-3. The Lions have lost 4.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-4 ATS and also own an O/U record of 6-3.
The Panthers are 6-3 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Lions are 3-6 SU.
The Panthers dropped one to Pittsburgh 52-21 in a Week 10 thumping where their defense allowed the Steelers to pass for 325 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 138 yards. On the offense, Cam Newton completed 23-of-29 passes for 193 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Christian McCaffrey (77 rushing yards on 14 attempts, one TD) led the running attack. McCaffrey (five receptions, 61 yards, two TDs) and Curtis Samuel (four catches, 18 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
In Week 10, Chicago took care of this Detroit crew by a score of 34-22. Matthew Stafford completed 25-of-42 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Kerryon Johnson (51 rushing yards on 14 attempts, one TD) handled the running game while Kenny Golladay (six receptions, 78 yards, one TD) and Johnson (six catches, 38 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Carolina has run the ball on 45.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Detroit has a rush percentage of 38.4 percent. The Panthers have produced 138 rush yards per game and have 12 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Lions are putting up 101 rush yards per game and have five total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Panthers might own the advantage in terms of RB efficiency. Their running backs has produced 5.1 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 4.4 YPC to opponents. The Lions have ran for 4.3 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.9 to opponents.
The Panthers offensive scheme has logged 233 yards per game in the air overall and has 17 passing TDs so far. The Lions have produced 267 pass yards per contest and have 16 total pass scores.
Defensively, Carolina has allowed opponents to run for an average of 99 yards and pass for 273 yards per game. The Detroit defense has allowed 248.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 132.7 yards per game to opposing runners. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.54 to opposing QBs, while the Lions have given up an 8.34 ANY/A.
Offensively, Newton has put up 1,839 passing yards this season, and has completed 68 percent of his 267 attempts with 15 passing scores and five interceptions. Newton has a 6.39 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.72 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced attack offensively from Carolina in this one. Christian McCaffrey (500 rushing yards, two rush TDs, 361 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns on the year), Greg Olsen (182 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Curtis Samuel (10 rush yards, one rush TD, 99 receiving yards, one TD) have each played significant roles recently.
In the host locker room, Matthew Stafford has managed to complete 196-of-295 passes for 2,186 yards, 16 TDs and eight INTs. Stafford’s ANY/A sits at 6.44 for the season and 3.43 across his last two outings.
Kerryon Johnson (517 rushing yards, two rush TDs, 196 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown on the year), Kenny Golladay (555 receiving yards, four receiving TDs) and Marvin Jones Jr. (442 receiving yards, five receiving TDs) have combined to account for 386 total yards and three touchdowns over the past couple of games.
When these two squads faced one another a year ago, Carolina knocked off Detroit by a field goal 27-24.
RELATED: Week 11 NFL Betting Odds and Predictions
NFL Prediction: Carolina Panthers at Detroit Lions
SU Winner – Lions, ATS Winner – Lions, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for Carolina’s last game going into it was 51. The over cashed in the team’s 52-21 defeat to Pittsburgh.
Carolina has rushed for 4.9 yards per attempt over its past three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
Detroit has averaged 2.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.0 over its past two.
The Detroit offense has lost five fumbles this season while Carolina has lost four.
In its last three matchups, Carolina is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Detroit’s previous outing was 44.5. The over cashed in the 34-22 loss to Chicago.
Over its last three games, Detroit is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Panthers offense has created one pass play of 40 or more yards, while the Lions have put up three such plays.
The Carolina defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Detroit has given up six such plays.
The Carolina offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Detroit has created six such runs.
The Panthers defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Lions have given up seven such runs.
The Detroit defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 25 times this year. Carolina has recorded 22 sacks.
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