Week 1 of the 2021 NFL preseason ends Sunday when the Carolina Panthers visit the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. ET for the only game of the day. Below, we look at the Panthers at Colts odds and lines, and make our best NFL picks, predictions and bets.
Panthers QB Sam Darnold, acquired in an offseason trade with the New York Jets, will not make his game debut Sunday. Instead, look for veteran journeyman P.J. Walker and 2019 third-round pick Will Grier to handle the snaps. RB Christian McCaffrey shouldn’t be expected to play coming off an injury-riddled 2020 campaign.
Colts fans will also need to wait to see their team’s offseason addition at quarterback. Carson Wentz likely won’t play all preseason after undergoing surgery for a training camp foot injury. Jacob Eason, the Colts’ fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft, and Sam Ehlinger, a sixth-round selection in 2021, will handle the bulk of the QB work in the exhibition opener.
Panthers at Colts odds, spread and lines
Odds via Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:39 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Panthers +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Colts -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Off the board
- Total: 33.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Panthers at Colts odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Colts 17, Panthers 13
Money line
The COLTS (-155) were two wins away from playing in Super Bowl LV. While they’re pivoting from the retired Philip Rivers to Wentz at quarterback for the 2021 season, the rest of the roster has remained relatively stable. This includes a formidable defense and an exceptional offensive line.
Carolina surprised many last year by going 5-11 without McCaffrey for a good portion of the season. Head coach Matt Rhule deserves a lot of credit for a successful first season on the job, but the Panthers remain a team in transition and will be holding relatively open auditions at a lot of key positions Sunday.
Back the stronger and more established home team.
Against the spread
There was no money line available at the time of writing.
I’d be comfortable backing the Colts up to -2.5 for a better value, but the money line is the safer play.
Over/Under
Take the UNDER 33.5 (-110) as the strongest play.
Neither side is expected to be fielding many key first-team offensive players and the backup quarterbacks on either side don’t instill much confidence in points being scored.
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