Carolina (6-3) at Detroit (3-6)
When: Sunday, November 18th 2018
Where: Ford Field,
Detroit, Michigan
Time: 1:00 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Carolina -3/51.5
The Carolina Panthers have been trying to forget the beatdown they suffered last Thursday night at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers and after some extra rest and pondering, they’re ready to take the field to continue their march towards the postseason. Carolina will visit a fading Detroit Lions team on Sunday afternoon looking to bounce back from a 52-21 loss at Heinz Field, snapping a three-game winning streak. Luckily for Carolina, they tend to bounce back well, covering the spread 10 of the last 11 times they’ve lost straight-up. They will get a Lions team that is in last place in the NFC North with no signs of coming out of the basement. Detroit has lost three-straight and can’t seem to generate anything on offense – or protect their quarterback. Matt Stafford has been sacked 16 times and hit 25 times in the last two games – road losses to Minnesota and Detroit. The Panthers have won the last two meetings and six of the last seven, including a 27-24 win at Ford Field last season. Carolina QB Cam Newton was terrific in that game, passing for 355 yards and three scores while completing 25-of-33. Newton has thrown at least two scoring passes in a franchise-record eight consecutive games.
Carolina’s defense last Thursday ran into a buzz-saw and things just snowballed out of control versus the Steelers’ potent offense that has fared well against the run but shown to be susceptible to the pass. On offense, the Panthers can control the ball behind a running game that ranks third in the league at 138.4 yards per game and should receive a big effort from second-year running back Christian McCaffrey against Detroit. The former Stanford product leads the Panthers in rushing (579 yards, four TDs) and receiving (54 receptions, 439 yards, four TDs). Newton is not having his best season, but still makes this team go on offense. He ranks 24th in the league in yards per game with 242, 11th in rating at 101.2 and touchdowns with 17.
Stafford was feared by opposing defenses for years, but his inability to win big games has made him just an average quarterback – at best. Detroit’s offense ranks 23rd overall (347.6) and 20th in scoring (22.4). The Lions took away Stafford’s favorite target in Golden Tate, who was traded to Philadelphia, and second-year receiver Kenny Golladay (39 receptions, 601 yards, four TDs) seems to be the new favorite. Detroit is capable of slowing down passing offenses, but the team has been gashed on the ground, to the tune of 132.7 yards a game.
This one could get ugly. Carolina has been itching to get back on the field after an embarrassing loss and always plays well after a defeat. The Lions are completely done for the year and just can’t seem to protect Stafford enough. Lay the points.
Pick: Panthers -4.5
Betting Trends:
- Panthers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.
- Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Panthers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in November.
- Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on fieldturf.
- Panthers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Panthers are 19-9-1 ATS in their last 29 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Panthers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 11.
- Panthers are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Panthers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
- Panthers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Lions are 7-15-1 ATS in their last 23 games in Week 11.
- Lions are 16-35-2 ATS in their last 53 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Lions are 3-10 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Lions are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Lions are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games in November.
- Over is 4-0 in Panthers last 4 games in November.
- Over is 5-1 in Panthers last 6 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 22-5 in Panthers last 27 games on fieldturf.
- Over is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games after accumulating less than 250 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 8-2 in Panthers last 10 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Panthers last 8 games overall.
- Over is 9-4 in Panthers last 13 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Lions last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-1 in Lions last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 games in November.
- Over is 4-1 in Lions last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Over is 4-1 in Lions last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 7-2 in Lions last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 6-2 in Lions last 8 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Under is 10-4 in Lions last 14 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Lions last 7 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 10-4 in Lions last 14 vs. NFC.
- Over is 7-3 in Lions last 10 games overall.
- Over is 7-3 in Lions last 10 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 9-4 in Lions last 13 home games.
- Over is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
