Carolina (3-1) at Detroit (3-1)
When: Sunday, October 8th 2017
Where: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Time: 1:00 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Detroit -2.5/43.5
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Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers look to keep pace in the NFC South when they visit the Detroit Lions in a Week 5 battle on Sunday afternoon. Newton made headlines off the field this week and apologized Thursday, a day after his comment toward a female beat writer set Twitter on fire. “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes like … it’s funny,” Newton said in response to a question from Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue – a comment that Newton called “extremely degrading and disrespectful” in his apology. On the field, Newton delivered his best performance of the season when he passed for 316 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 44 and a score in a 33-30 win at New England last week. He will have to do it against a Lions defense that is forcing an NFL-best 11 takeaways thus far, while the Panthers haven’t created a turnover in three games. Detroit is tied with Green Bay at 3-1 in the NFC North after a hard-fought 14-7 road victory in Minnesota – their first division game of the season. The Panthers have won five of the last six meetings, but the Lions have covered the spread in four of the last five.
Carolina ranks fourth in total defense (282.0)and scoring defense (17.5) despite having played two potent offenses the past two weeks in New Orleans and New England. After throwing three interceptions in a 34-13 loss to the Saints in Week 3, Newton snapped out of an early season slump last week to post a 130.8 rating, his best since the 2015 season finale. He will need to be consistent against a ball-hawking defense like Detroit, but could use all-purpose back Christian McCaffrey more this game. The rookie from Stanford has caught a team-leading 22 passes for 206 yards on the season. Running back Jonathan Stewart (6,868 yards) became the franchise’s all-time leading rusher last week, surpassing DeAngelo Williams. Carolina will have a quick turnaround and host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
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Detroit has been opportunistic on both sides of the ball, as it ranks 10th in scoring offense (24.8) and fourth in scoring defense (17.5) despite being 24th in total offense (299.8) and 15th in total defense (322.5). Their +9 turnover margin has played a huge role in that, and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown seven touchdown passes with only one interception to lead the offense. Detroit is getting the running game into the act to take pressure off Stafford as Ameer Abdullah is coming off a career-high 94 yards and a score in last week’s win at Minnesota. Kicker Matt Prater has made an NFL-record four field goals of 55 yards or longer this season. Detroit will be at New Orleans next week before entering their bye week.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREDICTION
I love taking teams coming off a huge win like Carolina did last week in Foxborough. This Lions team, including their defense, is very underrated and they play very well at home. I think Stafford has another big game and the Lions win by a touchdown.
Pick: Lions -2.5
- Panthers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- Panthers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Panthers are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Panthers are 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games in October.
- Panthers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in Week 5.
- Panthers are 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win.
- Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 30 points in their previous game.
- Panthers are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Panthers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Panthers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 250 yards passing in their previous game.
- Panthers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
- Panthers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games on fieldturf.
- Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in October.
- Lions are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Lions are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Lions are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games following a ATS win.
- Lions are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Lions are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Panthers last 8 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Panthers last 5 games in October.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Panthers last 6 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 8-2 in Panthers last 10 games in Week 5.
- Over is 8-2 in Panthers last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 19-6-1 in Panthers last 26 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Panthers last 5 vs. NFC.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Panthers last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 8-3 in Panthers last 11 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Panthers last 8 games overall.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Panthers last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 8-1 in Lions last 9 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 7-1 in Lions last 8 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 11-4 in Lions last 15 games overall.
- Under is 11-4 in Lions last 15 games on fieldturf.
- Under is 21-8 in Lions last 29 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Under is 7-3 in Lions last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 34-15-3 in Lions last 52 games after allowing less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Under is 9-4 in Lions last 13 vs. NFC.
- Over is 39-19-2 in Lions last 60 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game.
- Panthers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
