Week 12 Free ATS Pick: Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints

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The Carolina Panthers (+10) are set to pay a visit to their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints (-10) at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. This crucial early afternoon game is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET and CBS has the TV rights.

Betting Preview: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

The Panthers head into this Sunday NFC game as a significant underdog and they’re currently getting 10 points. The Panthers are also receiving +325 moneyline odds while the Saints are -475. This NFC matchup should provide several decent live betting possibilities, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 47 points.

Early action has shifted to both the Saints and the under. The opening line was originally placed at -7 while the over/under was initially 48.

The Panthers have lost 1.5 units so far and are 5-5 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U mark of 6-4.

The Saints have lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 7-3 ATS and have an even O/U record of 5-5.

The Panthers have gone 5-5 straight up (SU), including 1-2 SU against NFC South opponents. The Saints are 8-2 SU overall and 2-1 SU against divisional foes.

The Panthers are hoping to get back on track after a 29-3 loss to Atlanta last week. The Panthers secondary allowed the Falcons to air it out for 314 yards. On the offensive side of the ball, Kyle Allen completed 31-of-50 passes for 325 yards and four interceptions. Christian McCaffrey (70 rushing yards on 14 attempts) mounted the running attack. McCaffrey (11 receptions, 121 yards) and DJ Moore (eight catches, 95 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.

New Orleans is coming off of a 34-17 win over Tampa Bay a week ago. Drew Brees completed 28-of-35 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Alvin Kamara did it all in the win. In addition to 75 rushing yards on 13 attempts, Kamara also reeled in 10 catches for 47 yards.

Each squad sports a remarkably similar (60-40 pass-to-run ratio on the season. Having said that, the Panthers have produced 126 rush yards/game (including 58.3 per game against South opponents) and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Saints haven’t been quite as successful, as they’re totaling 107.5 rushing yards per game (91 in conference) and have five total rush TDs.

The Panthers offense has logged 249.5 yards per contest through the air overall (295 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Saints have put up 271.4 pass yards per contest (292 against NFC competition) and have 17 total pass scores.

Defensively, Carolina has allowed opponents to run for an average of 128.4 yards and pass for 255.4 yards per game. The New Orleans defense has allowed 251.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 85.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Panthers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.04 to opposing QBs, while the Saints have given up a 5.65 ANY/A.

Brees likely has the edge over Allen in this matchup. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 8.08 for the year and 6.15 over his past two games while Allen’s ANY/A is 4.57 (and 3.43 over the past two games).

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints Free Prediction

SU Winner: Panthers, ATS Winner: Panthers, O/U: Over

Team Betting Trends

  • The O/U for Carolina’s last game was 48. The under cashed in the team’s 29-3 defeat to Atlanta.
  • As a team, Carolina has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.2 over its last two.
  • New Orleans has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three matchups and only 4.1 over its last two.
  • The New Orleans offense has lost one fumble this season while Carolina has lost nine.
  • In its last three contests, Carolina is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
  • Carolina has lost four of its last five games SU, with a 10-point win over Tennessee on November 3rd accounting for the only victory over that span.
  • The Over/Under for New Orleans’ last match was set at 50. The over cashed in the 34-17 win over Tampa Bay.
  • Over its last three games, New Orleans is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
  • New Orleans has won eight of its last nine games SU, with a -17-point loss to Atlanta on November 10th accounting for the one slip-up over that stretch.
  • The Panthers offense has recorded four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Saints have accounted for five such plays.
  • The Carolina defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while New Orleans has given up eight such plays.
  • The Carolina offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while New Orleans has created five such runs.
  • The Panthers defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Saints have given up five such runs.
  • The Carolina D has 39 sacks on the year while New Orleans has just 27.