Simulation Picks
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Maximize Your Odds of Winning with SportsLine Model and Our Top-Rated Picks!
Understanding Public and Money
Read More
Expert Picks
I'm also taking the Panthers first half -2.5 to go along with -3 for the full game. Look for the Panthers to attack the Eagles secondary from the opening kick. Lay it!
My simulations have the Panthers as -6 favorites after accounting for the Eagles playing on the road on short rest. Look for Carolina to attack the Eagles secondary early and often which should open up the ground game a little. Lay it with the Panthers.
The Panthers' offense is clicking, and I trust the defense to have a better game than it's managed in the last two weeks, though they did play well in Week 5 in Detroit before the Lions backdoored two TDs. I think the Eagles are a talented team, but this is an extremely tough spot for them. They're down Lane Johnson, and the offense fell off a cliff without him last year. They have to play on the road on short rest against what looks to be a legit Super Bowl contender. The Eagles' pass defense does them in in this matchup.
I'm looking at this game as a possible playoff matchup, with both teams off to a 4-1 start. I know there is a long way to go, but this is a big game with two really good defenses. The Eagles are defensively better than their stats indicate. Look for Carolina to be strong at home, and this game to go Under the total.
The Eagles’ offense is spreading its wings, averaging 27 ppg and scoring at least 26 pts in its last three. Carson Wentz has the Eagles playing well, and they have a Super Bowl-bound look to them. They've gone Over in 13 of their past 16 road games. The Panthers have got their offense going and have gone Over in their last three while coming off back-to-back road wins at Detroit and New England. The top play Thursday is the Over.
These teams mirror one another in a lot of ways. Where they differ is at the linebacker level and on the perimeter at WR. In my opinion, both slightly favor the Panthers.
The Eagles and Panthers have identical 4-1 records, and both have been efficient on both sides of the ball in recent outings. Although Carolina likely has the more impressive resume, with road wins against New England and Detroit, the Eagles have been a little more stout on the defensive side. Their fourth-ranked rush defense has caused opponents to become one-dimensional. They forced the Cardinals to gain 276 of their 307 total yards through the air. The hook on the key number provides value on the stronger defensive club in what should be a tight Thursday night game.
The Eagles are winning 48 percent of my simulations, making them a very strong money line play at +151. Carson Wentz has thrown 10 TDs against three INTs, and Carolina's pass defense is not as strong as the numbers suggest. Take Philly to win outright on Thursday Night Football.