Oakland Raiders at Carolina Panthers
Sunday, December 23, 2012, 1:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS, NFL Sunday Ticket
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina
Opening Line: Carolina -9
Current Line: Carolina -9 1/2 (+105)
Opening Total: 45 1/2
Current Total: 46 1/2
Opening Money Line: Panthers -375 / Raiders +315
Current Money Line: Panthers -370 / Raiders +310
The 4-10 Oakland Raiders travel to the 5-9 Carolina Panthers Sunday. Needless to say, both teams are eliminated from the playoff picture. The two teams have only played twice since 2001, with each team winning on the road. Carolina won the last meeting 17-6 in Oakland in 2008.
Oakland is coached by Dennis Allen. The Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs 15-0 last week at home on 5 Sebastian Janikowski field goals. The win snapped a 6 game losing streak for the raiders. Oakland is 4-10 ATS and the total is 5-9 this season.
Carolina is coached by Ron Rivera. After a 2-7 start, the Panthers have gone 3-1 in their last 4 games, including 2 wins in a row. Carolina crushed San Diego last week on the road 31-7. The Panthers are 7-7 ATS and the total is 8-6 this season.
Oakland is averaging 360.7 yards per game on offense, including 270.9 passing yards and 89.9 rushing yards. The Raiders are in the top 12 in total and passing offense. The Raiders are being outscored 29-19 this season. Oakland is last in the league in points allowed. The Raiders are allowing 370.8 yards per game on defense, including 248.3 passing yards and 122.5 rushing yards. The Raiders are 21st or worse in all defensive categories. Oakland is -7 in turnovers. The Raiders have forced 21 sacks and given up 26 this season. Oakland is 69/204 on third and fourth down conversions.
Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer has completed 60.9% of his passes for 3,987 yards with 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, along with 36 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. He has been sacked 26 times this season. Running back Darren McFadden has rushed for 617 yards with 2 touchdowns on 180 carries, and also has 37 catches for 241 yards and a touchdown. Marcel Reece has 59 carries for 271 yards along with 48 catches, 478 yards and a touchdown. Mike Goodson, Jeremy Stewart and Taiwan Jones will also get a few carries. Goodson has a touchdown catch.
Receiver Brandon Myers has 72 catches, 743 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Denarius Moore has 47 catches, 724 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Darrius Hayward-Bey has 37 catches, 562 yards and 4 touchdowns. Rod Streater, Derek Hagan and Juron Criner will also get some targets. Criner is questionable with a hip injury. Streater has 3 touchdown catches. Seven defensive players are listed as questionable, doubtful or out for Sunday’s game.
Carolina is averaging 355 yards per game including 233.4 passing yards and 121.6 rushing yards. The Panthers are in the top 15 in all three categories. Carolina is being outscored 23-21 this season. The Panthers are +2 in turnovers. Carolina has forced 36 sacks and allowed 33 this season. The Panthers are 75/182 on third and fourth down conversions. Carolina is allowing 335.6 yards per game including 217.7 passing and 117.9 rushing yards. The Panthers are #10 in both total defense and against the pass. Carolina has 4 defensive touchdowns this season.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton has completed 58.2% of his passes for 3,451 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Newton is also the leading rusher for the Panthers with 108 carries, 647 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has been sacked 33 times this season.
Running back DeAngelo Williams has 142 carries, 508 yards and 3 touchdowns,a long with 10 catches, 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jonathan Stewart has 93 carries, 336 yards and a touchdown, along with 17 catches, 157 yards and a touchdown. He is questionable with an ankle injury. Mike Tolbert has 39 carries, 130 yards and 4 touchdowns along with 26 catches for 246 yards.
Receiver Steve Smith has 66 catches, 1,056 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tight end Greg Olson has 59 catches, 747 yards and 5 touchdowns. Brandon LaFell has 34 catches, 577 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is probable with turf toe. Louis Murphy has 21 catches, 274 yards and a touchdown. Other than the running backs, no other Panther has more than 6 receptions. The Panthers are battling a ton of injuries with 22 players listed on the injury report including 12 defensive players and 8 offensive linemen.
Oakland is 4-1 ATS after allowing less than 250 total yards, 5-2 in road games against teams with losing home records, 19-42-1 against teams with losing records, 2-5 in Week 16, 2-5-1 in December, 2-7 after gaining more than 350 total yards, 1-4 after a straight up win, after allowing less than 90 rushing yards, and on grass, 1-6 overall, and 0-5 after a cover.
Carolina is 5-1 ATS after allowing 150 passing yards or less, 7-2 against teams with losing records, 19-7 in December, 2-6 after a cover, 1-4 after scoring more than 30 points, after a straight up win, and at home against teams with losing road records, and 1-5 at home.
Oakland is 5-26 straight up in games played in the eastern Time Zone since 2002. In fact, they have lost 9 games in a row in the Eastern time zone dating back to 2009 by an average score of 35-17. Carolina is trying to win 3 games in a row for the first time since 2009. While Carolina is playing much better than the Raiders, I am not sure the Panthers should be favored by 9 1/2 points over anybody. Carson Palmer has become the king of the garbage time backdoor cover. I could see him throwing a late touchdown to get inside the number and Carolina wins by 6 or something.
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