The New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers will face off in a divisional battle on Sunday morning. It’s time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Saints-Panthers prediction and pick.
Both of these teams managed to open the season with a win, but the Saints were far more impressive than the Panthers were. New Orleans throttled the Green Bay Packers in a game that they entered as underdogs. The defense looked dominant and Jameis Winston looked better than expected. Head coach Sean Payton literally couldn’t ask for a better start to the season.
Carolina, on the other hand, didn’t look quite as sharp. They managed to hold the New York Jets scoreless for the first half, but things quickly began to deteriorate in the third quarter. The Panthers nearly allowed the Jets back into the game, but their defense held on a crucial two-point conversion attempt to seal a win with some time left in the fourth.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the Saints-Panthers odds for this one.
NFL Odds: Saints-Panthers Odds
New Orleans Saints -3 (-125)
Carolina Panthers +3 (+105)
Over 45 points (-105)
Under 45 points (-115)
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Why The Saints Could Cover The Spread
New Orleans looked like one of the best defenses in all of football in Week 1. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was harassed in the backfield, as the Saints posted two sacks and seven quarterback hits. New Orleans also managed to pick off Rodgers twice, something that very few defenses can boast of. Carolina’s offense isn’t nearly as talented or consistent as Green Bay’s, so the Saints should have a field day against them. The Panthers have one of the poorest offensive lines in the league and New Orleans just destroyed the Packers’ highly-regarded protection unit. Expect Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold to be running for his life the entire time he’s on the field.
Jameis Winston showed what a good defense and good field position can do for an offense. Winston played well, but he wasn’t spectacular or anything like that. His defense put him in good spots and his run game was hugely helpful to his success. That formula is set to work out again in Week 2 against a Panthers defense that ranked 20th against the run last season. They did a great job stopping the ground game against the Jets, but New Orleans is a huge step up in competition from New York. Expect another efficient outing from this Saints offense that capitalizes on its opportunities.
Why The Panthers Could Cover The Spread
Carolina has the huge advantage of a healthy roster in this game. It looks like the Panthers will deploy all of their starters in Week 2 while the Saints struggle with injury woes. Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and center Erik McCoy are all likely to miss this contest. Lattimore is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the league, and McCoy has been a staple on the New Orleans offensive line since he was drafted in 2019. There are also a plethora of other Saints players who will likely enter Sunday with a questionable designation. New Orleans shouldn’t be anywhere close to full strength in this game, giving Carolina a huge leg up.
That leg-up primarily applies to the Panthers’ offense. There are six Saints defenders who will be questionable coming into Sunday, and at least two of them shouldn’t play at all. Carolina’s offense has some of the best weapons in the league, starting with running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is obviously one of the best backs in the NFL, and the receivers around him are also some of the strongest in the league. DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and Terrace Marshall are a tough trio to handle for any defense, especially one that’s missing its best defensive back.
Final Saints-Panthers Prediction & Pick
The Saints should be able to cover this, but they aren’t the best pick on the board. The over/under should be set much higher when taking injuries into account. This underrated Panthers offense should be able to put up their fair share of points, and New Orleans should be able to put up at least three touchdowns. Take the over with confidence.
FINAL Saints-Panthers PICK: Over 45 points (-105)
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