Only two teams will be on a bye during Week 14, which leaves us with a packed slate of games across the NFL.
There will be some exciting matchups among them and a few others that leave much to be desired. One of the more underwhelming battles will occur when the New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers.
Let’s try to add some excitement to this matchup by highlighting a few wagers that could prove to be profitable. Also, be sure to check out all of our Week 14 predictions and best bets for the rest of the busy slate.
Panthers vs Saints Odds
NFL odds used for this Carolina vs New Orleans preview were found at DraftKings Sportsbook and are current as of Dec. 6, 2023 at 1:30 pm ET.
- Moneyline: Saints (-230) • Panthers (+190)
- Spread: Saints -5 (-110) • Panthers +5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 37.5 (-110) • Under 37.5 (-110)
- Implied Score: Saints 21.5, Panthers 16
Panthers vs Saints Predictions
Score Pick: Saints 20, Panthers 16
The Saints have a question mark at quarterback, with Derek Carr going down last week against the Detroit Lions. The good news is that it appears that his shoulder is okay. The bad news is that he suffered a rib injury and was placed in the concussion protocol.
The Saints do have viable options behind Carr if he cannot play.
Jameis Winston has come on in relief of Carr before, including in Week 10 when he threw for 122 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings. They also have Taysom Hill, one of the most versatile players in the league.
Despite the possibility of Carr being out, look for the Saints to pull out the victory at home. The Panthers have been awful, winning just one game all season. That has included them going 0-7 on the road.
Panthers vs Saints Best Bets & Props
Over 10.5 Total Punts (-140)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The Panthers have struggled on offense, averaging just 15.9 points per game. The Panther punted eight times against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, with a combined 16 punts between both teams.
In week 12, the Panthers and Tennessee Titans combined for 13 punts.
When the Panthers and Saints met in Week 2, they combined for 10 punts. Given the state of disarray that both offenses are in, let’s make this our NFL bet of the day.
Saints To Score First (-150)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The Panthers scored 18 points or fewer in each of their last six games. Their problem is that they don’t usually get off to good starts. Their opponent has scored first in seven of their 12 games this season.
The Saints can overcome the potential absence of Carr with the combination of Winston and Hill. Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave are also both healthy. Combine that with being at home and look for the Saints to put the first points on the board.
Panthers Under 16.5 (-110)
FanDuel Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
The Panthers scoring 18 points last week broke a streak of five straight games in which they scored 15 or fewer points. In total, they have scored fewer than 17 points in a game seven times this season.
When these teams faced off previously, the Panthers scored 17 points in Carolina, which included a touchdown and two-point conversion with just over a minute left in the game. Look for the Saints defense to stand tall and hold them to under 17 points in this rematch.
Panthers vs Saints Same Game Parlay
Panthers vs Saints SGP (+112)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 unit
- Panthers Under 17.5 (-162)
- Saints Win Race To 15 Points (-155)
We’re already playing the under on the 16.5 points for the Panthers. We’ll buy an extra point for this parlay, giving us a bit of a cushion on a more common number of 17 points scored.
With the expectation that the Panthers will get off to a slow start and struggle to score, taking the Saints to get to 15 points first is another appealing option to get this parlay to plus odds.
The Panthers might not even reach that threshold by the final whistle, given that they have scored 13 or fewer points in four of their last five games.
