Bills vs. Panthers Point Spread: NFL Week 8 Odds, Prediction
For the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers, 2019 is an important year this week. That was the last time the Bills weren’t in first place in the AFC East this late into the season. It’s also the last time the Panthers had a winning record this late into a campaign.
Buffalo, 4-2 and losers of two straight, travels to Charlotte to take on the 4-3 Panthers on Sunday at 1 pm ET. The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills, coming off a bye week, have been hurt by uncharacteristically poor decision-making from reigning MVP Josh Allen and an abysmally weak run defence.
Carolina has won three straight and is undefeated at home. The Panthers took to the road and won away from home for the first time last week over the lowly New York Jets, 13-7. But they lost Bryce Young to an injured right ankle in the process.
The Sports Interaction NFL odds board has the Bills set as 7.5-point road favourites.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Bills are just 2-4 against the spread this season, including 1-1 ATS on the road. The team has played to the under in both of their road games.
Buffalo is 6-2 straight up and 5-2-1 against the spread in eight total games against the Panthers.
Meanwhile, Carolina is 5-2 against the spread overall and 3-0 ATS at home, where it has played to the over in two of its three games.
Buffalo Bills
The bye week came at an opportune time for Buffalo, with two consecutive poor performances and 18 players hurt or on IR.
Odds are Allen will right the ship. He’s still completing 68.5% of his passes and has thrown for 11 touchdowns against four interceptions. And, with the New England Patriots currently in first place, there is newfound motivation to get Buffalo back to the top of the division.
Much like the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills seemingly always do better as the hunter, rather than the hunted.
But something has to change regarding a run defence that is 31st in the league, allowing 156.3 yards per game, and is still finding Bijan Robinson’s treadmarks after the Atlanta Falcons back accounted for 238 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage two weeks ago.
Carolina Panthers
Having 4-3 next to the Panthers’ name still feels wrong, doesn’t it? But coach Dave Canales has something brewing in Charlotte. The first step is to turn Bank of America into a fortress. A 3-0 SU/ATS record at home is a good start.
Getting Young to resemble more of his end-of-season self last year has also helped. He has only completed 61.6% of his passes, but he has as many touchdowns (11) as Allen, and only one more interception, albeit in one more game.
However, it will most likely be veteran backup Andy Dalton, who has 84 career wins as a starter, taking the injured Young’s place under center on Sunday.
Who Will Win Bills vs. Panthers?
Buffalo’s wins have come against teams with a combined 3-24 record. Carolina’s not much better, as the opponents they’ve beaten have a combined 7-19-1 record. But that includes the Falcons and Dallas Cowboys at home.
Whether it’s Dalton or Young under center, the Panthers will most likely hit Buffalo with a heavy dose of Rico Dowdle, who had 473 combined yards and two touchdowns in home wins over the Cowboys and Miami Dolphins, even with incumbent starter Chuba Hubbard back.
Look for Buffalo to win, but Carolina to cover the 7.5-point spread as underdogs in a 27-20 Bills triumph.
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