Colts vs. Panthers Point Spread: NFL Week 9 Odds, Prediction
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Nik Kowalski
Last week saw Carolina get their first win this season, the final team to do so. That means 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young has an NFL win to his name as his Panthers are now 1-6. The Colts are on a three-game skid because they can’t keep opponents out of their end zone
The Colts are dead last in points allowed now, but Carolina comes in 25th in points per game. Either way, Sunday lines up to be a “get-right” game for one of these units. Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium starts at 4:05 p.m. EST with the Colts -2.5 on the spread as a road favourite and the total at 44 on the NFL odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Along with an actual win in the standings, Carolina picked up their first win against the spread last week. The Panthers have still yet to be a favourite this season while Indianapolis is now a favourite for the first time this year. The Colts are 2-1 on the road so far and 2-1 ATS in those games too. Six of the Colts last seven road games have finished over the total.
In a season in which the Panthers NFC South division plays the AFC South, history says that’s great news for Carolina. With a win over Houston last weekend Carolina advanced to 11-1 in their last 12 games and AFC South opponent. The Colts are 1-4 in their last five against the NFC South, losing to New Orleans last Sunday.
Indianapolis Colts
At base level allowing 37, 39, and 38 points in three consecutive outings leads to finger pointing toward the defence, but turnovers is what’s really doing Indianapolis in. When the Colts allowed 37 points at Jacksonville, the Jaguars 233 yards of offence but capitalized on four Colts turnovers. Cleveland’s 316 yards of offence was nothing special but they managed to score 39 points after another four Colts turnovers.
Last week is where things really get concerning. Minshew and the Colts played a relatively clean game, turning the ball over once. But the Saints generated over 500 yards of offence on nearly eight yards a play for another 38 points. The Colts countered with 164 rushing yards and 27 points, but none of it matters if 40 points is the benchmark to come out with a dub.
Carolina Panthers
It was only at 15-13 win for Carolina last week, but number one overall pick Bryce Young delivered when it mattered most. Down two, Young led the Panthers on an 86-yard drive that resulted in Eddy Pineiro’s walk-off 23-yard field goal.
Carolina’s now played three home games and have allowed a total of 56 points, and no more than 21 in a game. It’s just a matter of getting the offence going. The ground game is a major issue; Miles Sanders is already seemingly benched after signing a $25-milion deal in free agency this past off-season but Chuba Hubbard only generated 28 yards on 15 carries last week. Through the air, Adam Thielen has been a surprising top-12 receiver in the NFL this season with 581 yards in seven games. But after Thielen, only D.J. Chark has over 200 receiving yards for Carolina.
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