Buffalo Bills
vs.
Carolina Panthers
Week 2
NFL Pick
9/17/17
By Jason Green
The Bills won their season opener 21-12 against the New York Jets, but was that a good win? Well, any win is a win, but the Jets are seen as the worst team in the league and Buffalo only won by nine points at home. Still, they nearly doubled up on New York in total yardage and they had a great Game on the ground rushing for 190 yards.
The Panthers also played a weak team in their opener, but laid a 23-3 beat down on the San Francisco 49ers in the City By the Bay. They did not have the best day on the offensive side of the ball, but they played great D and kept San Francisco out of the end zone. Cam Newton was not bad, but not great and Christian McCaffrey had a pretty good debut in his first Game as a rookie. The Panthers.are favored by -7 at 5 dimes sportsbook.
These teams have not played since the 2013 season when the Bills were at home and beat the Panthers 24-23.
In the win over the Jets the Bills racked up 408 yards while only allowing 214. Tyrod Taylor had a solid Game going 16 for 28 for 224 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT and three Buffalo players had at least 49 receiving yards. The star of the Game for the Bills on offense was RB LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 110 yards and also had five catches for 49 yards.
Last season the Bills were 3-5 on the road.
While the Panthers only had 287 total yards in their opening win over the 49ers they only GAve up 217 and stuffed the run only allowing 51 rushing yards. Obviously, they will be tested more in this Game by McCoy and if they can shut him down they should win. Cam Newton was 14 for 25 for 171 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT and he spread the wealth and All Pro TE Greg Olson only had two catches for 18 yards. The team is high on RB Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 47 yards and while only averaging 3.7 yards per carry and a fumble he also had five catches for 38 yards.
Buffalo played legit D against the Jets, but it is pretty obvious Newton and company will give them a stiffer test this Sunday.
Key Betting Trend
The Bills are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road Games, 0-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record, and in their last 13 Games they have an Over record of 10-3.
The Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Games overall, 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home Games, and in their last 5 Games they have an Under record of 4-0-1.
Jason’s Pick: While the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between these teams and the underdog is4-1 ATS in the last five meetings as well both of those betting trends will not continue in this Game. One that will continue is the Bills failing to cover the spread in their last five Games facing a team with a winning record. Newton will have a good Game and the Panthers will contain the run, which is the main reason they will get the W and cover the spread.