Saints vs Panthers Predictions Week 2 - NFL Pick of the Day
In this battle of the NFC South, both the Panthers and Saints come in with a Week 1 win to their name.
The Saints dominated the Packers in all phases and nearly shut out last year’s MVP Aaron Rodgers while lighting up their defense to the tune of 5 Jameis Winston touchdowns.
On the other side of this matchup, Sam Darnold and Robby Anderson teamed up, once again, to successfully take their revenge on the Jets.
One of these teams will take their first loss of the season (or tie, who knows)! Let’s dig into this Week 2 matchup in the NFL pick of the day series.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
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New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers Prediction
While Jameis Winston and Sam Darnold are not the easiest quarterbacks to bet on, given their turnover-prone nature. It is tough to bet against the Saints given their strengths across the board, most importantly, in the trenches.
Carolina, to their credit, looks stronger than expected, especially on the defensive end. They spent their last 3 first-round picks on defense, and it may finally pay off as they looked staunch against rookie quarterback Zach Wilson and a “revamped" Jets offensive line that lost Mekhi Becton halfway through the game.
Unfortunately, the Panthers still fare poorly on their offensive line that features mediocre left tackle and guard play. Sam Darnold, as we’ve seen in the past, is not a fan of getting rattled in the pocket and can create costly mistakes when pressured consistently.
New Orleans is dealing with a few key injuries to offensive lineman Erik McCoy, defensive end Marcus Davenport, and recently paid cornerback Marshon Lattimore. While these players will be missed, depth is one of this team’s greatest strengths. They spent a first-round pick on defensive end Payton Turner and a third-round pick on cornerback Paulson Adebo. Neither of them is as good as the players they will be subbing in for, but the fact that New Orleans isn’t bringing guys off the street is a plus.
On the other side, Jameis Winston might not have the same hot start offensively, but that’s why Taysom Hill is there. If the passing game falters, they can shift to a run-heavy approach and push the Panthers’ teeth in with Hill, Alvin Kamara, and emergent running back Tony Jones.
Prediction: New Orleans Saints 24, Carolina Panthers 20
With a new era underway in New Orleans, Alvin Kamara and the Saints look to continue the momentum in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. (Image: USA TODAY)
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers Best Bets
Best Bet: Saints -3 (-115) at BetMGM
The Saints are just too talented, and -3.5 is about right for them playing away from home/in a dome. The injuries to New Orleans absolutely matter, but it goes back to their depth in having the advantage regardless in this matchup.
Head coach Sean Payton can mix things up at QB and catch Carolina off-guard or just pound the rock with Kamara as they typically have.
The line may change throughout the week, however, so be sure to keep an eye on our NFL gameday odds.
Best Bet: Under 44 points (-110) at BetMGM
Divisional games can get ugly. If this were being played in the Caesars Superdome, the over would make sense, but outdoors plus the respective defenses make the under palatable.
Both teams are good at creating pressure, which may limit chunk plays, leaving them to rely on their versatile running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara.
The pace of this game may be slow, and field goals should be kicked often.
Saints vs. Panthers Same Game Parlay Picks
Most sportsbooks are now offering same game parlays for the NFL, allowing you to combine multiple bets from the same game. The parlay below has its odds at +236:
- New Orleans Saints ML (-175) at BetMGM
- Both Teams Score 10 or More Points (-700) at BetMGM
- Panthers to Call First Timeout (-115) at BetMGM
I may expand my same game parlay to include Week 2 player props once they are released, so check back later this week! For more NFL betting tips, check out our NFL Week 2 Best Bets & Predictions and NFL pick of the day.
