This weekend’s Panthers-Rams matchup is a tale of two cities. Los Angeles won the Super Bowl last season, while Carolina just fired its head coach Matt Rhule.
The Panthers will now hand the keys to former Cardinals coach Steve Wilks, who will try to turn things around.
Below, check out my Carolina vs Los Angeles best bets for this Sunday.
Panthers vs Rams Odds
As you would expect, the Panthers are heavy road underdogs in this matchup. The Rams, despite their 2-3 record, are currently favored by 10.5 points. In Survivor pools, they are going to be a popular pick.
Take a look at the best Panthers odds and Rams odds for the 2022 NFL season.
Panthers vs Rams Implied Totals
Rams 25.75, Panthers 15.25
The betting markets believe that we should expect a quiet, low-scoring game that the Rams easily win.
Los Angeles may have a bounce-back offensive performance on Sunday, but the uncertainty with the Panthers’ organization is driving the odds for this weekend’s matchup.
Panthers vs Rams Pick of the Day
Read more on this Panthers vs Rams bet below.
Panthers vs Rams Prediction
Rams 21, Panthers 17
The Panthers are in shambles right now. After a 1-4 start, Carolina made the move to fire their head coach after losing to the 49ers 37-15.
As a football fan, Rhule seems like an easy piñata for the Panthers organization. Carolina went into this season without a strong quarterback, as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are marginal talents.
Going forward, both Mayfield and Darnold are injured for this Sunday’s game. The third-string quarterback is P.J. Walker, who has seen limited NFL action, even as a 27-year-old.
The New Jersey native previously excelled in the XFL, and he might exceed expectations this weekend. For his career, he has a 57% competition rate and only two passing touchdowns to eight interceptions.
When you delve deeper into his game logs, his performances aren’t as bad as they look. In garbage time as a backup, he has a poor record. But in his two career starts, Walker has been decent. Last year against the Cardinals, Walker completed 22-of-29 passes. In 2020 against Detroit, Walker completed 24-of-34 passes for 258 yards.
It is plausible that Walker can have a strong performance against the Rams if he limits his turnovers.
Los Angeles is in the midst of a Super Bowl hangover. The Rams have lost their last two games against the Cowboys and 49ers. LA should win on Sunday, but by no means is it a certainty, even against the Panthers.
Panthers vs Rams Bet Tips
Here are some Panthers vs Rams betting trends to consider before placing your bets:
- The Rams opened as 8.5-point favorites on Sunday night before the line moved to -10.5. The market believes that the Mayfield injury news and the coaching change were enough to move the spread two points.
- 5.7% of NFL games are decided by exactly 10 points, making the line move even more significant.
- The Panthers and Rams are 1-4 against the spread this season, tied for the worst mark in the NFL.
Panthers vs Rams Best Bets
Panthers: Over 13 Total Points (-166) at Caesars Sportsbook
Only 16.7% of NFL teams score 12 or fewer points in a game. The Panthers may be bad, but they are likely to at least put two touchdowns on the scoreboard, especially if there is ample garbage time.
Walker is going to try to shine in this rare opportunity for playing time. He might have a rough game, but he should be able to generate at least 14 points against this Rams defense.
Before placing this bet, get the best Rams promo codes.
Panthers Moneyline (+425) at PointsBet Sportsbook
What if hell freezes over and the Panthers win? I have certainly seen crazier things happen in sports.
Jeff Sagarin, who has some of the sharpest NFL power ratings, gives Carolina a 21% chance of winning. With a (+425) moneyline having a breakeven percentage of only 19%, a moneyline bet on Carolina has merit this Sunday.
Before placing this bet, get the best Panthers promo codes.
