Pro Football Betting: Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers Handicapping Preview

Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 9/18/11, 1:00 PM EST, TV: FOX
Opening Point Spread: Green Bay -10.5
Current Betting Line: Green Bay -9.5
Opening Total: 43
Current Total: 46.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton impressed many in his NFL debut last week against Arizona

Green Bay finally gets back on the field after opening the 2011 NFL season with a 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints as four-point favorites. The Packers own a 6-4 all-time lead in this series, including a 4-2 mark in Carolina. Head coach Mike McCarthy has done a splendid job of preparing his squad for life on the road to start the season, entering Sunday with a five-game winning streak in openers away from Lambeau Field, which is the longest such streak in the league. The team is also a fantastic 12-6 in the month of September under his direction. Green Bay is 25-12 ATS over the last two-plus seasons and 18-10 ATS as a favorite over that span.

The Packers were led by the offensive exploits of quarterback Aaron Rodgers again, throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns, which served as his 15th career game of going over the 300-yard plateau. He has enjoyed quite a stretch, throwing for 2,039 yards, 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions over his last seven games, including the playoffs. Defensively, the team spent the last week focusing on playing the pass, as it was torched by Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the opener. After all, Green Bay allowed just 194.2 passing yards a year ago.

Carolina dropped a 28-21 contest to the Arizona Cardinals to open the season as seven-point road underdogs, but found its franchise quarterback. The Panthers elected to use the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft to select Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who ended up throwing for 422 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. It was an unexpected performance due to his completing percentage being under 50 percent during four preseason games. “There’s going to be a lot more things I can look back on,” commented Newton after the game. “You have to capitalize and get points when it matters.” Carolina is 6-0 ATS as a home underdog of 7.5 to 10 points and the ‘under’ is 5-1 in those contests.

The Panthers were also happy that wide receiver Steve Smith had a breakout game, catching eight passes for 178 yards, which was his most receiving yards since Oct. 15, 2006. “In this offense, there are going to be times when I’m the focal point,” Smith commented at practice this week. “When other guys are getting involved, it’s fun.” Defensively, the franchise is still getting over a major injury that it suffered against Arizona, as linebacker Jon Beason suffered a season-ending injury. Carolina will be looking to win just its second home opener in eight tries.