The Carolina Panthers stumbled out of the gate in 2022 and the franchise fired disappointing coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start despite 4 seasons left on a 7-year, $62 million deal he received in 2020. Ouch.
Instead of packing it in, however, the organization actually challenged for an NFC South title into January under interim coach Steve Wilks. The team went 6-6 in the final 12 games to wind up a respectable 7-10 after the disastrous start. The players reportedly loved playing for Wilks, but the team elected to start anew, hiring Frank Reich as the head honcho.
The addition of Reich wasn’t the only big news in the offseason, not by a long shot. The team traded up from the 9th draft position to acquire the No. 1 overall pick from the Chicago Bears, which cost 3 high draft picks and productive WR DJ Moore. The Panthers used that pick on Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winner QB Bryce Young.
The Panthers also made a splash in free agency, acquiring WR DJ Chark Jr, TE Hayden Hurst, RB Miles Sanders and WR Adam Thielen to give Young some much-needed weapons. QB Andy Dalton was also signed as depth and veteran leadership.
In addition, the defense will use a new 3-4 scheme, and DT DeShawn Williams was brought in from the Denver Broncos, joining new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who was previously in Denver. SS Vonn Bell also joins the team via free agency from Cincinnati, and NT Shy Tuttle will be on the D-line between Williams and DE Derrick Brown.
Below, we look at the Carolina Panthers’ 2023 NFL Super Bowl odds from FanDuel Sportsbook along with projected win total, playoff, conference and division odds as we make our best NFL picks and predictions.
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2023 Carolina Panthers schedule
| WK | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
| All times ET | |||
| 1 | Sept. 10 | at Falcons | 1 p.m. |
| 2 | Sept. 18 (M) | vs. Saints | 7:15 p.m. |
| 3 | Sept. 24 | at Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | vs. Vikings | 1 p.m. |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | at Lions | 1 p.m. |
| 6 | Oct. 15 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. |
| 7 | BYE WEEK | ||
| 8 | Oct. 29 | vs. Texans | 1 p.m. |
| 9 | Nov. 5 | vs. Colts | 4:05 p.m. |
| 10 | Nov. 9 (Th) | at Bears | 8:15 p.m. |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | vs. Cowboys | 1 p.m. |
| 12 | Nov. 26 | at Titans | 1 p.m. |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | at Buccaneers | 1 p.m. |
| 14 | Dec. 10 | at Saints | 1 p.m. |
| 15 | Dec. 16 or 17 | vs. Falcons | TBD |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | vs. Packers | 1 p.m. |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | at Jaguars | 1 p.m. |
| 18 | Jan. 6 or 7 | vs. Buccaneers | TBD |
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Panthers over/under win total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook – last updated May 14 at 11:18 p.m. ET; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list.
- 7.5 wins: (Over: -122 | Under: +100)
The Panthers added Young to the offense, which is seen as an obvious upgrade. Even if Dalton were to start, serving as a bridge before Young is deemed ready, it should be viewed as an upgrade over the previous QBs Baker Mayfield, then Sam Darnold.
In addition, the team leaned upon RB D’Onta Foreman, who ended up in Chitown. However, Sanders is an obvious upgrade and proven talent in this league. In addition, while Moore was the obvious No. 1 last season, the team added veteran talent with Chark and Thielen, joining up-and-comers WR Terrace Marshall Jr., Laviska Shenault Jr. and Shi Smith. The team brought back WR/KR Damiere Byrd for veteran stability, too.
The defense should also be better, especially in the back end, with Bell joining DBs Jeremy Chinn and Donte’ Jackson. CB Jaycee Horn also looked like a budding superstar before suffering a broken wrist in December. This is a defense on the rise.
With obvious upgrades across the board at key positions, it’s not hard to believe this team will be at least 1 game better in the standings, if not more. As such, OVER 7.5 WINS (-122) is a great play.
Panthers Super Bowl odds
- +6000 (bet $100 to win $6,000)
OK, let’s pump the brakes a bit. While I believe the Panthers could easily challenge for a Wild Card spot, and perhaps a division title, this isn’t a roster constructed to challenge for a championship just yet.
In fact, the Panthers are tied with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders at +6000, and that’s the 4th-longest odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
I believe the Panthers are going to struggle to get above .500, although it’s certainly possible. But this isn’t a team in the same stratosphere as the Kansas City Chiefs (+600), favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champs, or the defending NFC champ Philadelphia Eagles (+850), who have the 2nd-shortest odds.
At +6000, Carolina has an implied probability of winning the Super Bowl of 1.64% or 60/1 fractional odds.
The Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans have the longest odds at +18000.
I would AVOID tying up money on a futures play on Carolina to win the Super Bowl, at least this season. If Young pans out, and the team jells together nicely, perhaps 2024 is when the organization will make move up to contender status.
Will the Panthers make the playoffs?
- Yes +168 | No -210
This is a tremendous value play, and perhaps the best futures option on the board involving the Panthers.
The NFC South is wide open, and the Panthers should be able to contend for a division title, which would obviously net them a playoff spot. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for a Wild Card spot to be in play, too.
Carolina’s schedule gets a little hairy around the holidays, including 3 consecutive road games in Tennessee, Tampa and New Orleans from Weeks 12 through 14. We’ll know where this team is after that stretch.
I think the best path to a playoff spot is winning this division, and a 9-8 or 10-7 record might be able to get that done. I think the Panthers are certainly capable of such.
Odds to win NFC South Division
- Saints +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- Falcons (bet $100 to win $260)
- Panthers +350 (bet $100 to win $350)
- Buccaneers (bet $100 to win $550)
The Panthers made a lot of nice upgrades across the board, from the skill positions on offense, to the defensive coordinator, defensive line and the coaching staff, as a whole. This is a team on the rise.
The NFC South was won with a losing record last season, as Tampa Bay get to raise a division title banner despite going just 8-9. Everyone else was 7-10, as it was that close. Carolina and Tampa Bay were each 4-2 inside the division, and if the Panthers can duplicate those numbers, the rest of the schedule could net them at least 5 or 6 more wins.
The Saints added QB Derek Carr, and the Falcons added an important piece by grabbing RB Bijan Robinson in the draft, while the Bucs have a new signal caller in former Panthers QB Mayfield. Everyone made upgrades, but Carolina might have made the best, and most dramatic additions. This is a retooled team which is a great value, giving bettors a chance to multiply their initial wager by 3 1/2 times. Go for it!
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Panthers odds to win NFC
- +3000 (bet $100 to win $3,000)
I like the Panthers to potentially win the NFC South Division, or maybe even make the playoffs as a Wild Card. However, I am not about to waste lettuce picking Carolina over the likes of the Eagles (+330), San Francisco 49ers (+350), Dallas Cowboys (+600) or even the Detroit Lions (+1000) to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 57 in Las Vegas.
This team isn’t that far away from competing for a championship if owner David Tepper and general manager Scott Fitterer didn’t miss on Young. However, you should AVOID tying up good money on the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
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