It wasn’t a season filled with wins, but Carolina defied preseason expectations– many of which put them picking first overall in the upcoming draft. Instead, new head coach Matt Rhule set the tone and the culture for the Panthers moving forward. The Panthers were without superstar Christian McCaffrey for most of the entire season, but the offense showed up anyway. The receiving tandem of D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson exceeded hopes and turned Carolina into an offense that had explosive potential.
As was the case last offseason, the defense needs attention. The defense was anchored by star rookie Jeremy Chinn and pass rusher Brian Burns, but offenses gashed the unit nonetheless. Carolina will likely dip back into the defensive pot this coming draft, just a year after selecting the first all-defense rookie class in NFL history. Panthers fans have a right to be optimistic about their future under offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The only piece missing from the passing equation is a star quarterback (something that could be addressed in the coming draft).
Carolina Panthers odds
Panthers futures odds
Panthers Super Bowl odds
The Panthers have been eliminated from NFC Playoff contention.
NFC South odds
The Carolina Panthers have mathematically eliminated from the NFC South race.
Panthers schedule and odds
| Week | Date | Time | Opponent | Opening spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sunday, Sept. 13 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Las Vegas | Raiders -1 |
| Week 2 | Sunday, Sept. 20 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Tampa Bay | Buccaneers -8 |
| Week 3 | Sunday, Sept. 27 | 4:05 p.m. ET | at LA Chargers | Chargers -5.5 |
| Week 4 | Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Arizona | Cardinals -1.5 |
| Week 5 | Sunday, Oct. 11 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Atlanta | Falcons -7 |
| Week 6 | Sunday, Oct. 18 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Chicago | Bears -3.5 |
| Week 7 | Sunday, Oct. 25 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at New Orleans | Saints -13.5 |
| Week 8 | Thursday, Oct. 29 | 8:20 pm. ET | vs. Atlanta | Falcons -3.5 |
| Week 9 | Sunday, Nov. 8 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Kansas City | Chiefs -16 |
| Week 10 | Sunday, Nov. 15 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Tampa Bay | Buccaneers -8 |
| Week 11 | Sunday, Nov. 22 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Detroit | Panthers -0.5 |
| Week 12 | Sunday, Nov. 29 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Minnesota | Vikings -8.5 |
| Week 13 | Sunday, Dec. 6 | BYE | ||
| Week 14 | Sunday, Dec. 13 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. Denver | Broncos -3 |
| Week 15 | TBA | TBA | at Green Bay | Packers -9 |
| Week 16 | Sunday, Dec. 27 | 1:00 p.m. ET | at Washington | Panthers -0.5 |
| Week 17 | Sunday, Jan. 3 | 1:00 p.m. ET | vs. New Orleans | N/A |
How to bet on the Carolina Panthers
If you truly believe in the Panthers outperforming their expectations in 2020, there is tremendous value to be found at the sportsbooks. Catch up on all the key betting terms you need to know and how to work the odds in your favor before placing your futures bets for the 2020 season.
Moneyline
Generally the first odds released for each game every week and the first stop of both beginner and experienced sports bettors. Team A and Team B are given separate odds based on their perceived chances of winning the game. Odds will be impacted by the NFL standings, player injuries, and recent outcomes. Historical data pertaining to head-to-head matchups can also play a large role, especially for division rivals.
Odds will generally range from -200 for favorites to +200 for underdogs and will adjust throughout a game week based on public betting action, and any news pertaining to injuries or player usage. Lopsided mid- or late-season matchups can see odds extend from -500 to +500.
A $10 bet at -200 odds for a favorite will return a profit of $5. The same bet on a +200 underdog fetches a profit of $20. Most experienced bettors will avoid any odds lower than -200. Deemed a chalk play, the profit potential just isn’t worth the risk of the initial investment.
Any game with a winner will result in a win for that side of the bet. A tie ends in a push and all moneyline bets are refunded.
Spread
Lopsided matchups are best bet against the spread. Here, each team will be assigned a line representing how many points it will need to either win by or stay within in a loss for the bet to cash. Lines are most commonly set at 2.5, 3.5, 6.5 or 7.5 points, representing scoring margins of either a touchdown or a field goal.
Close matchups can see the spread set at +/-0.5 or +/-1 points. These are referred to as a pick’em and the more profitable odds for at least one side are likely to be on the moneyline. A line set at a whole number such as 3 or 7 without the half-point hook opens the door for a push. If the Panthers were -3 favorites at home against the Falcons (+3) and were to win 24-21, all bets would be refunded. Spread odds will almost always range from -120 to +120 and are usually equal on both sides.
While the odds on underdogs aren’t nearly as lucrative, the spread is usually the best place to bet a favorite, as they’re being handicapped by needing to win by a certain amount of points. Heavier favorites late in the season could see a spread as large as -14.5 or -17.5 points.
Total
The projected final score of an NFL game can range from the mid-30s to high 50s and will be set similarly to a spread. Instead of betting either team to cover, bettors back either the Over or the Under. Conservative odds will range from -120 to +120 for a profit of $8.33 or $12 on a $10 wager.
Odds are influenced by the caliber, health, and appeal of the two teams involved. The weekly TV time slot can also play a large role. A Sunday or Monday night contest will typically come with an inflated total due to an increased viewership looking for touchdowns and big plays. Thursday night games typically carry the lowest projections of the week with teams on short practice weeks and dealing with more injuries.
Like with spreads, a game can result in a push if the line is set at a whole number.
The moneyline, spread, and total can be bet for a full game, each half, or each quarter. Alternate lines for the spread and total allow bettors to get higher, more profitable odds by taking on a riskier line. Safer lines require bettors to give up some of their profit potential.
Props
The best way to get betting action on a game without having to worry too much about the final outcome is with player or team props. Over/Under or Yes/No lines are set for statistical accomplishments such as receiving yards or touchdowns.
Odds will generally be constrained within a range of -130 to +130 with only two possible outcomes. Props with a broader range of odds will have a larger pool of possibilities such as the exact outcome of a game (i.e. Panthers to win by 3 points).
Futures
Futures odds come out a year or more in advance of the outcome being decided and allow bettors to go shopping for early values. The odds will be adjusted throughout the offseason and regular season based on league news such as free agency, the NFL draft, trades, or injuries. Public betting action also influences the oddsmakers and teams with large fanbases such as the New England Patriots or Dallas Cowboys will almost always see lower odds than they maybe should.
Team futures look at projected win totals as well as odds to win a division, conference or a Super Bowl. Player futures focus on end-of-year awards but will also set statistical projections for yardage totals or touchdowns, similar to game props.
The larger the pool of possibilities, the more profitable odds can be. With over 100 players up for the MVP in the middle of the offseason, the biggest long shots are priced at +30000 for a $3,000 return on a $10 investment. Monitor the odds regularly and be ready to hop in when the value seems right.
Teasers
If a spread or total line looks too risky, “buy” some points to get a safer, more achievable number with lower, less profitable odds. Not risky enough? “Sell” points for a higher or lower number and to get higher odds.
These teased or adjusted lines from the same game or multiple different games can then be parlayed together into a single bet with higher odds. The risk goes up significantly the more individual wagers involved, as each one will need to play out correctly for the bet to cash.
In-play/live
Coupled with mobile betting, fans can get action on a game wherever they are after the opening kickoff. Lines are continuously adjusted to reflect the current score, amount of time remaining, and field position.
Injuries and big plays in a game can drastically sway the odds, even making a pre-game favorite an underdog. It’s a race against the books to get the value before lines are adjusted. It’s rarely a bad idea to back the initial favorite at plus-money if they fall down by a couple of early scores.
Panthers 2019 season in review
Newton’s 2019 season, and Panthers’ tenure, came to an end after just two starts. The team then finished the season at 5-11 (5-9 without Newton) and fourth in the NFC South behind a league-high 2,392 total yards and 19 touchdowns from McCaffrey. Neither QB Kyle Allen or Will Grier were determined to be the QB of the future, and Bridgewater was brought in from the New Orleans Saints.
The Panthers averaged just 21.3 points per game and 341.8 yards per game on offense. They allowed 29.4 PPG to rank 31st in the NFL and their 374.5 yards allowed per game ranked 23rd. Only the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers had a worse turnover differential than Carolina’s minus-14.
While going 5-11 straight up, the Panthers managed to go just 6-9-1 against the spread. They lost by an average of 8.1 PPG and failed to cover by 6.2 PPG. Their 11-5 record against the Over/Under was an indictment of the woeful defense. Their games topped the projected totals by an average of 4.7 PPG. They were one of just six teams to go 1-5 or worse straight up in divisional play.
Panthers 2020 offseason moves
Key trades: QB Kyle Allen to WAS for 2020 fifth-round pick, G Trai Turner to LAC for OT Russell Okung
Key re-signing: WR DeAndrew White (one year, $825K)
Key free agent losses: QB Cam Newton (to NE), CB James Bradberry (to NYG), LB Mario Addison (to BUF), TE Greg Olsen (to SEA after release), DT Gerald McCoy (to DAL, DT Vernon Butler (to BUF)
Key free agent signings: QB Teddy Bridgewater (three years, $63 million), WR Robby Anderson (two years, $20 million), QB P.J. Walker (two years, $1.6 million), DE Stephen Weatherly (two years, $12.5 million), CB Juston Burris (two years, $8 million)
The Panthers went all-in on a roster overhaul after replacing former head coach Ron Rivera with Rhule. The defense lost key pieces in retired LB Luke Kuechly, Bradberry, McCoy, Butler, and more, while Olsen joined Newton in his departure. Anderson joins a talented receiving corps, but it’s unknown whether Bridgewater will be able to make proper use of the speedster. It was an overall downgrade for a Panthers team clearly looking beyond the 2020 campaign.