When the Carolina Panthers take the field for a meeting with the hosting Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, it will begin a tale of two NFL teams trending in opposite directions.
Carolina is hunting for its first win of the season, while Miami and its top-ranked offense is seeking its second consecutive victory.
Who will win this AFC non-conference tilt? Read on for our best bets and predictions for the Panthers vs Dolphins matchup.
Panthers vs Dolphins Odds
NFL odds used for this Carolina vs Miami preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of Wednesday and 12:12 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Dolphins (-800) • Panthers (+650)
- Spread: Dolphins -13.5 (-110) • Panthers +13.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 48.5 (-110) • Under 48.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: Dolphins 31, Panthers 17.5
Panthers vs Dolphins Predictions
Score Pick: Dolphins 42, Panthers 21
Miami should comfortably win this contest at home. The Dolphins have the best offense in the game and have too many weapons for the Panthers’ defense to slow down.
Miami will miss rookie RB Devon Achane (knee), but it has more than enough in the locker to score at least 35 points with the possible return of RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
The Panthers’ passing defense has been stout thus far, although it hasn’t faced an explosive offense like the Dolphins possess. With the Fins playing at home, we should expect an aerial show from this potent Miami unit.
Carolina starts rookie QB Bryce Young, but the offense sputters and stalls at times and the young signal-caller has already thrown four interceptions.
The Panthers’ O-Line allows nearly four sacks per contest, and while the Miami defense is just mediocre, it has the fifth-most sacks per game and will cause Young and the Panthers all sorts of problems. Carolina will score, but not more than three TDs.
Panthers vs Dolphins Best Bets & Props
Over 48.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
It’s easy to anticipate a high-scoring affair on Sunday, which is why the Over is our NFL bet of the day.
Miami is all about its offense and its shiny weapons, like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
The two wide receivers have combined for 896 receiving yards and six TDs, and while the Panthers’ passing defense is one of the best statistically, it hasn’t faced an explosive offense at home like what Miami has.
The Dolphins’ defense can sometimes play soft, and Carolina does have a couple of nice weapons in wideouts DJ Chark and Adam Thielen, so both teams should score plenty.
Dolphins -13.5 (-108)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
This game opened with the Dolphins -7.5, and that number has ballooned to nearly two TDs in some shops.
It’s a lot of points, I know, but there aren’t that many markets available this early in the week.
Miami is 4-1-0 ATS with a powerful enough offense to cover two TDs against a Panthers side that is 0-4-1 ATS this season.
Look for the Fins’ defense to go after Young early and force a couple of mistakes that the Miami offense will capitalize on.
Both teams to score 20+ points (+135)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 units
We’ll take a stab at this play because it’s entirely possible for the Panthers to score 20-plus.
Miami doesn’t have the best defense in the league, and it allows three TDs per contest.
Carolina has a rookie at QB, but it has scored more than 20 in two of its five contests and scored an average of 7.8 fourth-quarter points.
Look for the Panthers to get there during garbage time with the game well out of reach.
Panthers vs Dolphins Same-Game Parlay
Panthers vs Dolphins SGP (+650)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Miami -13.5 (-108)
- Over 48.5 (-110)
- Panthers Over 17.5 (+105)
Essentially, we’ve pieced all three of our main bets into this same-game parlay card, and it looks pretty good.
Getting better than even money on the Panthers team total was a nice gesture on DraftKings part, but the Dolphins defense will allow three TDs.
If it does, all three legs will hit because Miami will score at least five TDs on Sunday.
