NFL 'MNF' Week 2: Best bets and preview for Panthers vs. Saints
Week 2 of the NFL season is almost in the books, but we can't move on to Week 3 just yet. Commissioner Roger Goodell was nice enough to give us not one, but two "Monday Night Football" games to close out the Week 2 slate.
Let's start with the early game between the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints. How should you attack the NFC South battle from a betting perspective?
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers betting breakdown
Tonight's odds: Saints -3, over/under 39.5, Saints -166 moneyline | Panthers +140 moneyline
The Saints hit the road for a divisional showdown on "MNF," and they'll need a win to keep pace with the 2-0 Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 to start the season 1-0, but it sure wasn't pretty.
The Saints outgained the Titans, 351-285, intercepted Ryan Tannehill three times and held Derrick Henry to only 63 rushing yards, yet they nearly lost the game and needed some luck to escape with a 16-15 victory.
As for the Panthers, Bryce Young looked all the part of a rookie in his first road start. The Alabama product completed only 52.6 percent of his passes and threw two picks in the 24-10 loss. Young should have more success this week, though, as D.J. Chark will make his season debut and provide a much-needed boost to the wide receiver room.
'Monday Night Football' best bets
Panthers +3 (-110 FanDuel)
If you get a chance to fade Derek Carr and Dennis Allen as favorites of any margin on the road, you take it without asking questions.
Over the course of his NFL career, Carr is 28-44 in away games with 103 touchdown passes and 55 interceptions. And Allen, who's quietly one of the worst NFL head coaches of the last decade, is 16-38 in his career and 21-32-1 against the spread. This is a glorious combo to fade on the road as full three-point favorites.
The Panthers should be able to run the ball effectively with Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard against the Saints' front seven, which will open up the play-action for Young. This defense, led by Brian Burns, will be able to pressure Carr and force him into mistakes, too. Carolina can win this game outright
First half under 19.5 points (+105 FD)
We're expecting an offensive struggle in this one, at least in the first half.
In Week 1, the Panthers and Saints combined to score just two touchdowns. Both defenses held their own, though, as Carolina allowed only 221 yards to the Falcons, and New Orleans kept the Titans out of the end zone. The way to attack both defenses is on the ground, so this is likely to be a run-heavy approach from both teams to start the game.
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