The Carolina Panthers lost a grand total of two games last season. One of those defeats just so happened to come against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Riverboat Ron and Cam Newton will get an immediate shot at avenging that bitter 24-10 loss in both teams’ 2016 Week 1 season opener. To get the job done, Carolina will have to find a way to solve the riddle that was a Denver defense that forced four turnovers en route to pulling out the upset victory.
This contest in Week 1 of the regular season will go down Thursday, September 8, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Carolina Panthers -3
Denver Broncos +3
Over/Under 41.5
Odds Analysis
Only the juice has shuffled around since this line first opened at -3 in favor of the visiting Panthers. It went from +3 -120 in favor of the Broncos to +3 -105 before recent Carolina money flooded in moving the Panthers to chalky -3 -125 road favorites. None of Denver’s quarterbacks making much of any noise throughout the preseason likely has something to do with that.
The total opened at 42.5 and sat there for the better part of the last three weeks before falling a full point to 41.5 at the end of August. With Denver looking to run the ball, Carolina still possessing question marks in the passing game and each team boasting top six scoring defenses from last season, it’s hardly surprising the betting public expects a low scorer.
Injury Report
Dean Marlowe – It’s not so much that Marlowe plays a key role on this defense, but he is the first in line should one of the starting safeties go down. Even more concerning is the backups to the backups all being down to the point that Carolina’s bringing safeties in on a daily basis should none of them be healthy to suit up. With Josh Norman no longer patrolling this secondary, it’s not nearly as lock down.
DeMarcus Ware – The Broncos veteran defensive end is dealing with a nagging back injury that could find him riding the pine Week 1. He had two sacks of Newton last February, and his absence from the defensive rush could allow Carolina’s passing game to have an easier time of it.
Revenge Angle
Think Carolina’s had this game circled? Though early Super Bowl 50 action saw the betting public slam the Panthers up to 5.5 point favorites, the smart money prevailed late making the move back down to 4.5 all the more legit. Denver immediately set the tone of the game in the first quarter by getting on the board first, and then turning a sack strip into yet another defensive score.
The Panthers looked snake bit the rest of the way. Cam was pouting. The offense kept turning the ball over. Though Denver did next to nothing offensively, it was the defense that led the way with seven sacks and four forced turnovers. With Trevor Siemian set to take QB1 snaps, Carolina’s defense has a chance to set the tone. The absence of Josh Norman likely won’t be felt in this one, so that will give Luke Kuechly and company an excellent opportunity to help lead the team to the win.
Free ATS Pick
I’m not going to come flat out and say the Panthers were a farce last season, but they were the only member of their division to finish with a +.500 record and took on one of the easiest schedules of any playoff entrant. While Denver’s offense concerns me, it also did in the Super Bowl but that didn’t stop me from taking them plus the points and on the moneyline.
Carolina was shaken by the Broncos defense on a neutral field in that game. This time around, they have to go into Sports Authority Field and deal with one of the nastiest home field advantages the league has to offer. Denver already showed it can get the best of the Panthers even with getting next to nothing from the offense. I’m not nearly as high on Carolina’s defense this season. Look for Denver to declaw the Panthers once again.
NFL Odds: Broncos 20, Panthers 16
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