TNF Falcons vs. Panthers Point Spread: NFL Week 8 Odds, Prediction
NFC South rivals Atlanta and Carolina wrap up their season series in the Thursday night game in Week 8 when they meet in Charlotte. The Panthers opened as 2.5-point favourites on the NFL odds with a total of 49.
NFL Week 8 Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This is the last time that both Atlanta and Carolina play ahead of the November 3 NFL Trade Deadline. There has been some talk that the Falcons might sell off some pieces and even rumours that star quarterback Matt Ryan and All-Pro receiver Julio Jones are available, but the salary-cap hits of those two make it almost impossible for them to be traded until the offseason. Still, you could see Atlanta make a few minor trades just to save some money. Carolina probably would be a buyer and could use help on defence and tight end.
The Falcons were 0-4 but favoured when they hosted the Panthers in Week 5, and Carolina ended a five-game straight up and against the spread (ATS) losing streak in the series with a 23-16 upset that led Atlanta owner Arthur Blank to fire coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff after the game.
Teddy Bridgewater threw for 313 yards and two scores, with Robby Anderson catching eight balls for 112 yards. Juston Burris made a big interception in the end zone but is now hurt. All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey missed the game due to injury (more on him below). Ryan wasn’t very good, throwing for 226 yards with a pick. Jones missed the game due to injury.
The home team is 11-5 against the spread in the past 16 meetings. The under is 11-3-1 in the previous 15.
Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta manages to find inventive ways to lose pretty much every week and certainly did so Sunday. Had running back Todd Gurley simply fallen down at the Detroit 1-yard-line in the final minute instead of scoring a touchdown, the Falcons could have run out all but a few seconds and attempted the winning chip-shot field goal. Instead, they left the Lions with too much time and Detroit would get an improbable 23-22 win on the game’s final play. Gurley did try to fall down right at the end, but it was too late as his momentum pushed the ball over the goal line.
The Falcons have now lost fourth-quarter leads in three of their six losses this year. Ryan threw for 338 yards and a TD and leads the NFL in passing yards. Gurley finished with two rushing scores. The Falcons are 6-1 ATS in their past seven road games.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina dropped its second in a row Sunday, 27-24 in New Orleans. Joey Slye tried what would have been an NFL-record 65-yard field goal late to tie but came up just short. Bridgewater had only five incompletions and threw for two scores, but he took a bad sack the play before that field-goal attempt. The Panthers had 37 yards rushing on 14 carries and allowed New Orleans to covert 12 of 14 third downs. The 85.7 per cent conversion rate was the highest allowed in team history.
Meanwhile, it’s apparently a “long shot” that McCaffrey returns for this one from a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 2. He rushed for two touchdowns in each of the first two games, although Carolina lost both. Journeyman Mike Davis had been a capable replacement until doing nothing vs. the Saints. Carolina is 1-5-1 ATS in its past seven after a loss.
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