Lions
vs.
Panthers
Week 2
NFL Pick
with Analysis
9/14/14
The Panthers host the Lions Sunday with both teams in off week 1 wins and looking to go 2-0. Currently the line at betonline is Carolina -2.5 -115 with a total of 43.5. Looking at the betting percentages we see that 80% of the bets taken on this Game as of Thursday have come in on the Lions. Not surprising as the Lions were on display in a winning fashion on Monday Night football this past week.
As a handicapper, the 2014 Panthers are a team I’ve taken a particular interest in. The reason for the interest is that Panther defense of a year ago combined with all of the offseason moves on both sides of the ball. Most of those moves came on the offensive side of the ball, however there were some key moves on the defense, especially in the secondary.
I have a hard time believing the powers that be in Carolina would make any moves that would significantly impact that defense in a neGAtive way. It’s the strength of this team and the major reason they hosted the 49ers in a playoff Game last season.
The jury is still out, but after week one, the signs are positive. They came away from week one with a W and did it on the heels of their defense as Cam Newton was on the sidelines with a rib injury and did not play. The big question is, was it the Panthers defense that was responsible for that result, or was it the result of a revamped Bucs offense still trying to find their way?
We’ll know more this week as a Lions team led by Matthew Stafford comes to town fresh off their Monday night thrashing of the Giants, 35-14. In that Game Stafford completed 22 of 32 for 346 yards with 0 INT’s. It was a Game that was never in doubt.
The three new members of the Panthers secondary will get tested this week for sure and we’ll get Our answer to whether or not this Panthers defense is going to be a force in 2014. Had this Game been played a year ago, the Panthers at home would have been favored by a TD or more. In fact Our model, which is still relying on last years data, has the predicted Scoreat 28-14 in favor of the Panthers.
We’re going to go against the public in this one. Cam Newton returning should provide a spark to this offense and the team in general, to go along with what we feel is still going to be one of the better defensive units in the league. Panthers +3