NFL Week 9 Picks: Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 11/3/13, 1:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Carolina -7.5
Current Betting Line: Carolina -7
Opening Total: 41.5
Current Total: 47
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Carolina Panthers have won three games in a row

Atlanta has dropped four of its last five games, including a 27-13 defeat to the Arizona Cardinals as 2.5-point road underdogs last Sunday, while going UNDER the betting total for the first time in six contests. The Falcons are 0-3 on the road, which can’t be ignored when looking over the NFL betting lines, especially after quarterback Matt Ryan threw four interceptions and was sacked a season-high four times in Week 8. He’ll be playing the rest of the season without leading wide receiver Julio Jones. Atlanta is 0-3 SUATS as underdogs this season, with the UNDER going 2-1 in that situation.

The Falcons own a 23-13 overall advantage in their overall series with the Panthers, including a 7-3 mark under head coach Mike Smith. In 10 career games against Carolina, Ryan has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,518 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. The franchise is also 23-20 during the regular season when playing away from the Georgia Dome under Smith’s direction.

Carolina has won and covered the spread in its last three games, including a 31-13 blowout victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 24, with the OVER cashing in each of those affairs. “We’ve put ourselves in the mix,” commented Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross. The Panthers are starting to put things together and may receive a boost with the return of running back Jonathan Stewart, who hasn’t played since last November due to an ankle injury. Carolina is 10-5 SU and 11-4 ATS when playing a team with a losing record since 2011, with the OVER going 8-6-1 in that situation.

The Panthers’ latest three wins have come against opponents that have a combined 4-18 record, with quarterback Cam Newton completing 77.3 percent of his passes and compiling a 130.3 passer rating over that span. Carolina should be able to move the football on the ground as well, considering Atlanta has given up 562 yards on the ground in the last four games.