Panthers at Jaguars Week 1 Betting Preview & Predictions

Game Details

Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET
EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
Jaguars -3.5 | Total: 47  MyBookie

The NFL season kicks off with a matchup between two franchises looking to rewrite their narratives. The Jacksonville Jaguars enter as home favorites against a Carolina Panthers team that showed significant improvement under Dave Canales down the stretch of last season.

Offensive Outlook: High-Scoring Affair Expected

Panthers’ Aerial Attack Primed for Success

Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers have horrible defenses, which means the Panthers will have to score a lot to keep up. The Jaguars yielded the most passing yards in the NFL last season. This defensive vulnerability sets up perfectly for Bryce Young’s continued development.

Young’s late-season surge provides the foundation for optimism. The Carolina Panthers have to be happy with what they saw from Bryce Young down the stretch of last season, with 10 touchdowns to zero picks in the final three games. The addition of first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan gives Young a legitimate vertical threat, while they also return a very good offensive line that gave up only 36 sacks a season ago.

The matchup heavily favors Carolina’s passing game. Jacksonville might end up airing it out a lot since the Panthers spent most of their offseason building up the front of that defense. Young should find success through the air, with experts predicting “Young steps into Week 1 with a revamped offense, headlined by first-round WR Tetairoa McMillan” and positioning him to exploit Jacksonville’s secondary weaknesses.

Jaguars’ Offensive Weapons Under New Leadership

Trevor Lawrence enters a crucial season under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Trevor Lawrence looked comfortable in Liam Coen’s new offense, and he’s got weapons on the outside in Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. The two-way phenom Travis Hunter adds an explosive element, with predictions he’ll score his first receiving touchdown of the year and show everyone why the Jaguars didn’t hesitate to give up two first-round picks to move up for him.

Brian Thomas Jr. represents another major threat in his second season. “Thomas has every chance to lead all receivers in fantasy points this season,” with expectations he could “go for 100-plus receiving yards” against Carolina’s vulnerable secondary.

Defensive Concerns Drive Total Higher

Both defenses present significant vulnerabilities that should lead to offensive fireworks. The Panthers had the worst run defense in the NFL last season, and it wasn’t even close. They allowed 179.8 yards per game, over 36 yards more per contest than any other franchise.

Jacksonville’s defensive issues are equally concerning. Meanwhile, the Jaguars allowed the most passing yards per game. The run defense didn’t fare much better, and they had the fewest takeaways of any team since the NFL expanded to 17 games.

The addition of Hunter helps, but his two-way role limits his defensive impact. I think Hunter’s going to play only about 50% of snaps on the defensive side of the ball in Week 1, based on the reps he’s taking in practice. This reduces Jacksonville’s ability to shore up their secondary weaknesses immediately.

Betting Analysis & Predictions

The Spread: Take the Points with Carolina (+3.5)

The spread offers value on the road underdog. This game is a toss up. As long as the Panthers are getting three and the hook, we’ll take the road team to cover the spread.

Carolina’s late-season momentum under Canales, combined with Young’s improved play and the addition of McMillan, makes them a live underdog. The Panthers showed they could compete when the offense clicked, and this matchup presents ideal conditions for continued offensive success.

Prediction: Panthers +3.5 (-110)

The Total: Over 47 is the Play

The defensive deficiencies on both sides make the Over the strongest betting angle. Neither of these defenses can be trusted to come up with consistent stops, not to mention you’ve got a kicker in Cam Little who can give the Jaguars points from anywhere inside the 50-yard line.

Multiple prediction models support the high-scoring narrative.

The combination of improved offensive weapons, questionable defenses, and favorable game script conditions points toward a shootout in Jacksonville.

Prediction: Over 47 (-110)

Key Betting Factors

• Young’s Development: His 10 TD, 0 INT finish suggests continued improvement
• Hunter’s Impact: Two-way versatility creates mismatches but limits defensive help
• Defensive Vulnerabilities: Both teams ranked among NFL’s worst in key defensive categories
• Offensive Line Play: Carolina’s protection advantage could be decisive
• Red Zone Efficiency: McMillan’s size provides goal-line advantage for Panthers

Bottom Line

This Week 1 matchup sets up as an offensive showcase between two franchises looking to take significant steps forward. Carolina’s improved offensive foundation and the significant defensive questions surrounding both teams make the Panthers live to cover and the Over the strongest play.