Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons odds, picks and predictions

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The Carolina Panthers (4-12) and the Atlanta Falcons (8-8) meet Sunday in a Week 18 regular-season finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (CBS). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL odds around the Panthers vs. Falcons odds, and make our expert NFL picks and predictions.

The Panthers became quite a bit more competitive in November and December, winning 3 times in the past 8 games. However, Carolina was smacked down 48-14 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17 as a 10.5-point underdog while the Over (48) again cashed.

Carolina is 6-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 8 outings, while the Over has hit in 3 in a row, 5 of the past 6 games, and 11 of the previous 14 outings. That includes the first game against the Falcons, a 38-20 loss as a 6-point underdog while the Over (46) cashed in Week 6.

The Falcons suffered a 30-24 loss in overtime in Week 17 at the Washington Commanders as 3.5-point underdogs in a game which it should have won and covered. Atlanta cashed the Over (46.5) in that loss, which was rare, after the Under went 6-1 in the previous 7 outings.

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Panthers at Falcons odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Saturday at 6:56 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Panthers +300 (bet $100 to win $300) | Falcons -375 (bet $375 to win $100)
Against the spread: Panthers +7.5 (-105) | Falcons -7.5 (-115)
Over/Under (O/U): 48 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Panthers at Falcons key injuries

Panthers

LB Amare Barno (shoulder) out
CB Jaycee Horn (hip) out
OT Robert Hunt (knee) questionable
LB Josey Jewell (concussion) out
LB DJ Johnson (personal) out
CB Lonnie Johnson (shoulder, neck) out
WR Xavier Legette (hip, wrist) questionable
OT Taylor Moton (knee) questionable
DT A’Shawn Robinson (neck) questionable
RB Miles Sanders (ankle) questionable

Falcons

LB JD Bertrand (eye) questionable
DT Brandon Dorlus (abdomen) questionable
WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder) questionable

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Panthers at Falcons picks and predictions

Prediction

Falcons 29, Panthers 18

Moneyline

The Falcons (-375) will cost you almost 4 times your potential return. While Atlanta will be pushing hard for a win to secure a division title, it also needs a Tampa Bay loss to the New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers are 14-point favorites at home, so that’s a tall order. Still, the Falcons will at least be going all out.

However, risking this much for such a small return is not a recommended betting strategy.

PASS.

Against the spread

The FALCONS -7.5 (-115) are worth a look in this regular-season finale. Again, Atlanta will be all gas and no brakes against the lowly Panthers +7.5 (-105), who have long since been eliminated from the playoff picture.

Yes, Carolina has been a cover machine since the beginning of November, going 6-2 ATS. However, Tampa Bay needed a win last week against the Panthers, and they were nothing more than a minor nuisance. Expect the Falcons to handle them, too.

Over/Under

UNDER 48 (-110) is the lean, but only as a half-unit wager at most.

The Under has cashed in 6 of the past 8 games for the Falcons, but the Over is 3-0 in the past 3 games for the Panthers, while going 7-2 in the past 9 outings. The total went high in the first meeting between these divisional rivals, too, but the Under is 6-3 in the past 9 in this series, including 3-1 in the past 4 battles in Atlanta.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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