Cam Newton is healthy entering the opener. The same can’t be said about many of his teammates. The banged up Carolina Panthers open the season against the equally beat up Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. With play-making receivers on both sides out of action, expect points to be scarce.
ODDS
Carolina opened as 4-point chalk when BookMaker posted the odds. The Panthers have a number of injury concerns, forcing the line to fall to -3. We could see more movement when official injury reports are listed. The total hit the board at 42.5, but with each team missing a key receiver, that number dropped to 41.
KEY INJURIES
Star Lotulelei – Missed the entire preseason with a stress reaction to his surgically repaired foot and is doubtful for the opener. “It’s a long season and we’ve got to be smart,” coach Ron Rivera said of his star defensive lineman.
Ryan Kalil – Continues to rehab from a knee injury and is questionable to play on Sunday. The Panthers’ starting center is more optimistic, telling reporters that he will be ready for the opener.
Marquise Lee – The Jags’ receiver remains hobbled with a sore hamstring and is likely to sit out the opener. Without him in the mix, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns locked down starting spots.
KEY MISMATCH
Carolina's defense is led by Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, whom coach Ron Rivera views as the best linebacker tandem in the NFL. The Panthers bolstered that area a little more this season by adding first-round pick Shaq Thompson from Washington, giving them even more speed and an ability to better defend teams like Seattle with top notch tight ends. The Panthers also possess a strong defensive line with Kony Ealy earning the spot formerly held by Greg Hardy, and Charles Johnson, Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei as the other starters. Carolina has finished in the top 10 in defense in each of the past three seasons and will bring the pressure on Blake Bortles, who was sacked 55 times last season.
KEY STAT
71 – The number of sacks the Jaguars allowed last season, which was the most in the league by 13 over the next closest team. Bortles was brought down 55 times, which alone would have been the second-highest total in the NFL. The Panthers boast an imposing front seven that could have the Jags quarterback scrambling for safety.
BETTING ANGLE
When the Panthers beat the Bucs last year, it was the first time head coach Ron Rivera won an opener in his four seasons. It also helped Carolina get off to a 3-2 start, a marked improvement from its 1-5, 1-5 and 1-3 beginnings. Starting in Week 6, the Panthers face a brutal stretch with games against Seattle, Philadelphia, Indy and Green Bay. Before that gauntlet it’s the Jags, Texans, Saints and Buccaneers. So it’s essential the two-time defending NFC South champions have another above-.500 start in what is a much improved division. “We better be ready,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “There’s a lot of anticipation going into Week 1.”
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Jaguars should be better this season with the development of Bortles and the addition of running back T.J. Yeldon. But the team did little to address its most pressing need along the offensive line, where the Jags allowed 71 sacks last season. Carolina has a gifted front seven led by stud Kuechly and the addition of Thompson to the linebacking group makes them formidable. The Jags will have problems penetrating them with the run game, forcing Bortles to throw more than he’d like. He could have success against an injured Panthers secondary if he gets time. He likely won’t. The Panthers lost their top receiving threat when Kelvin Benjamin went down with a knee injury, so watch for Newton to utilize tight end Greg Olsen more in the passing game while Jonathan Stewart could have a big game running the ball.
Carolina 20, Jacksonville 12
The NFL odds for this Sunday game were first available at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Panthers were pegged as 4-point chalk while the total opened at 42.5. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don’t have your computer? No problem, BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don’t miss out on getting paid because you couldn’t bet, click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The game between the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars is slated for Sunday, September 13, 2015, at 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Field. The matchup will be televised live on CBS.
