The Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles will do battle on the grass of Lincoln Financial Field. FOX is scheduled to televise the action and this vital early afternoon game starts at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles
The Panthers come into this Sunday NFC game as the dog here and they’re currently being given 5 points. The Panthers are also receiving +160 moneyline odds while the Eagles are -180. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 45.5 points, and if one team can catch a lucky break early, it will likely lead to a solid betting opportunity in-game.
The game’s total has shifted higher after initially being set at 45. The opening line of -5 has stayed consistent.
The Panthers are 2-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.8 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an Over-Under record of 3-2.
The Eagles are down 1.6 units this season. The team is 2-4 ATS and has an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Panthers have gone 3-2 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Eagles are 3-3 SU.
These two franchises faced off a year ago with the final result being a 28-23 victory for Philadelphia.
The Panthers came up short to Washington 23-17 in a Week 6 contest where Cam Newton completed 27 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Newton (43 yards on nine rush attempts) also spearheaded the ground attack. McCaffrey (seven receptions, 46 yards) and Devin Funchess (five catches, 74 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Philadelphia just picked up a lopsided 34-13 win over the Giants a week ago. The Eagles defense allowed the Giants to run for 147 yards on 17 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Saquon Barkley was a force to be reckoned with, putting up 130 rushing yards and a score on 13 attempts, along with 99 yards on nine catches for New York. For Philadelphia, Carson Wentz completed 26-of-36 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Wendell Smallwood (51 yards on 18 rush attempts) and Corey Clement (43 yards on 11 carries, one TD) mounted the running game as Alshon Jeffery (eight receptions, 74 yards, two TDs) and Zach Ertz (seven catches, 43 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Carolina has run the ball on 45.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Philadelphia has a rush percentage of 39.3 percent. The Panthers have produced 139.4 rush yards/game and have four touchdowns on the ground this year. The Eagles are averaging 110.3 rush yards per game and have six total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Panthers could hold an edge when it comes to applying pressure. Their offensive line has given up only 35 sacks while the D-line logged 50 sacks. The Eagles O-line has given up 36 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs just 38 times.
The Panthers offense has averaged 231.6 yards in the air overall and has nine passing scores so far. The Eagles have put up 276.3 pass yards per game and also have nine total pass TDs.
Defensively, Carolina seems to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 102.4 yards and pass for 268.0 yards per game. The Philadelphia D has allowed 290.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 79.8 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Panthers have given up an ANY/A of 6.08 to opposing QBs, while the Eagles are allowing an ANY/A of 6.32.
Passing-wise, Newton has put up 921 yards this season, and has completed 67 percent of his 135 attempts with seven scores through the air and only two interceptions. Newton’s got a 6.55 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.79 over the last two games.
As a group, Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and Devin Funchess have combined for 430 total yards and two touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Carson Wentz has completed 84-of-123 passes for 881 yards, six TDs and one INT for Philadelphia. His ANY/A sits at 6.68 for the year and 8.72 across his last two games.
Similar to the Panthers, expect a balanced attack offensively from Philadelphia this Sunday. Zach Ertz (370 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown on the year), Nelson Agholor (258 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Wendell Smallwood (174 rush yards, one rush TD, 52 receiving yards) have combined for 411 total yards and three touchdowns over the last two games.
Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles Free NFL Pick
SU Winner: Eagles, ATS Winner: Panthers, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- Philadelphia has lost seven fumbles this season while Carolina has lost three.
- The Philadelphia defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 16 times this season. Carolina has registered 12 sacks.
- Carolina has produced 4.8 yards per carry over its past three contests and 4.1 over its last two.
- Philadelphia has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.9 over its last two.
- Over its last three games, Philadelphia is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Carolina’s previous game was 44.5. The under cashed in the team’s 23-17 loss to Washington.
- Over its last three contests, Carolina is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Philadelphia’s last outing going into it was 46. The over cashed in the 34-13 victory over the Giants.
