NFL Predictions: Falcons a bad bet to beat Panthers? 12/31/17
Are the Falcons a bad bet to beat the Panthers on Sunday? The NFC South rivals meet in a pivotal matchup at 4:25 p.m. ET.
The Odds: Panthers at Falcons, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday
According to oddsmakers, Atlanta is now a 4-point home favorite. Carolina opened as a 3-point underdog before the line moved. The total, meanwhile, is sitting at 44.7 points after hitting the board at 47.
Carolina enters play with an 11-4 record and a 5-2 mark on the road this year. Atlanta, meanwhile, is 9-6 overall and 4-3 at home. The Panthers have been the much better bet to cover, posting a 9-6 record against the spread. The Falcons are just 6-9 against the number in 2017.
Carolina Panthers Injury Report
Guard Trai Turner is out with a concussion. Safety Kurt Coleman (ankle) and linebacker Spencer Paysinger (undisclosed) are questionable. Defensive end Charles Johnson (suspension), linebacker Thomas Davis (suspension), and fellow backer Shaq Thompson (foot) are probable.
Atlanta Falcons Injury Report
The Falcons are relatively healthy. Guard Andy Levitre is probable to return from a triceps injury that caused him to miss multiple games recently. Tight end Levine Toilolo, however, is out with a knee injury.
Our Prediction
Both of these teams need a win for different reasons. Let’s start off with Carolina. If the Panthers win this game and the Saints lose to the Bucs in Tampa, they will win the NFC South. There’s also a scenario in which Carolina could earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC, although that would require the Vikings losing to the hapless Bears, which is unlikely. Win, lose, or draw, the Panthers are in the playoffs.
Now for Atlanta. If the Falcons beat the Panthers, they’re in as the sixth and final seed in the NFC. If they lose, they can still get in, but they would need the Seahawks to lose at home to the Cardinals. That too seems unlikely, but the point is both of these teams have something to play for.
So which team is the better bet? I believe it’s Carolina, which is playing better ball at the moment. The Falcons have won two of their last three games but they’re currently in an offensive funk. Matt Ryan has been highly inconsistent in the red zone, Devonta Freeman has been putting the ball on the carpet too much, and for whatever reason, the team can’t unleash Julio Jones. There’s little to no synergy for this Falcons team, which has an awful matchup against Carolina’s stout defense.
The bottom line is that I don’t understand why the Falcons are a 4-point favorite in this game. Three? Sure. That’s home field advantage. But the Panthers are the better team, they have something to play for, and they’re getting four points to boot. Sign me up.
NFL Week 17 Predictions: Carolina Panthers +4
