Panthers vs. Titans Point Spread: NFL Week 12 Odds, Prediction
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Edgar Chaput
Expectations may have been tempered in both camps when the season began, but 1-9 and 3-7 records through 10 games are probably not want either club wanted. The Panthers were manhandled by the Cowboys at home last Sunday, 33-10. Tennessee was away to divisional rivals the Jaguars and was pounded 34-14.
The NFL odds cautiously have the Titans as -3.5 favourites, with a disappointingly low total of 36.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Panthers and Titans are about the least familiar foes as there is the the NFL. They’ve played each other only four times over the last 16 years. To say that the Titans haven’t defeated this week’s opponent since 2011 doesn’t even carry much weight. For what it’s worth, the teams have split the last four meetings.
There is no reason to expect a 1-9 straight-up tally to reflect any better against the spread, hence the subpar 1-7-2 showing in that respect by Carolina. The lone success came the only time they won this year. Of note, the Panthers have been 10, 11, and 14-point underdogs this season and failed to cover every time.
If there are any positive signs for the Titans, it would be their 3-1 record at home, the only loss coming in London for that matter. Playing in front of their fans appears to provide some wind in the team’s sails because road games have been pretty bad this season. ATS the side is only 4-6, but three of those were at Nissan Stadium.
Carolina Panthers
Things are very bad in Carolina these days. Bryce Young’s rookie campaign is going about as badly as it can, save for injuries. The 33-10 home loss to Dallas in Week 11 was but another demonstration of how much work remains to be done before this franchise sees brighter days.
From first downs (13), offensive yards (187), points (10), to penalties (eight for 90 yards), it was a miserable day at the office. The Cowboys didn’t even gain that many yards with their scheming and talent (311). It was the Panthers’ lack of discipline on defence that kept Dallas drives alive, all too often on third down. There are some teams that, at this late stage of the season, just look as though they’re crumbling before our very eyes. Sadly, Carolina looks like such an ensemble. It doesn’t help that the offensive line isn’t very good, but Young himself is not doing himself many favours. The only bright spots were decent yards-per-touch averages for backs Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard.
Tennessee Titans
What makes this week’s match so unappealing is that the Titans were just as bad as the Panthers in Week 11. They scored more points with 14 but were still crushed 34-14 by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The goodwill that QB Will Levis bought a few weeks ago with a fine win over Atlanta has all but evaporated. He’s looked mediocre two weeks in a row. Against the Jags, he went 13-for-17, 158 yards and two TDs. Some of those numbers look good, but consider that a chunk of that was earned on a flea-flicker in the third quarter to DeAndre Hopkins when the score was 27-0. Remove those 43 yards, on a trick play no less, and suddenly it’s a 115-yard day. Maybe one shouldn’t be too harsh. After all, the time of possession heavily favoured Jacksonville (36:26 to 23:34), and some of that had to do with a bad defence and a fumble on special teams.
The Titans’ season is on life-support at this point. That said, a visit from the Panthers is as good an opportunity as Tennessee will get for a pick-me-up game.
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