by Chuck Sommers
Wednesday, Dec 21, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Lions -3; Lions -150, Panthers +130; O/U 43.5
FanDuel: Lions -2.5; Lions -152, Panthers +128; O/U 43.5
BetMGM: Lions -2.5; Lions -150, Panthers +125; O/U 44
Caesars: Lions -2.5; Lions -135, Panthers +115; O/U 44
Season record
Lions: 7-7 (2nd place, NFC North)
Panthers: 5-9 (2nd place, NFC South)
We’re coming down the home stretch of the NFL season and there’s still a lot left to get excited for on your TV screen (or your streaming device if you’re like me and watch Sunday Ticket on a Fire Stick. That works, too). Nevertheless, the final few weeks of the regular season are going to be hectic for everyone on the field, but just as much as everyone off it. You’re probably going to need to figure out which plays are the best ones in terms of teams sitting the star players for the playoff advantage, or which teams are going all in for the final playoff push. If you need that extra push, trust that our champion handicappers can get the job done for you. Matt Fargo has a 17-9-0 run over the last 30 days in the NFL. Brian Bitler has continued to stay consistent, despite a wild, unpredictable season, by going 16-9-0. Do you want a piece of this action? Make sure to stay locked to bigal.com and follow our champion handicappers so you can be a champion, too!
Lions - Panthers preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Lions: won 20-17 at Jets
Panthers: lost 24-16 vs. Steelers
Lions analysis
The BRAND … NEW … LIONS. They continue to find a way to win games and crack their way to a playoff spot. The Detroit Lions won for the sixth time in seven games Sunday with a 20-17 win over the New York Jets, and also covered for the seventh straight game. Truly an incredible run with three games against the Panthers, Bears and Packers to close out the regular season.
In what was a rare bit of form, the Lions were underdogs for the first time in a few weeks, laying 2 in New Jersey, but it was the Lions hanging on to win another game and pull even at .500 with three winnable games remaining.
Jared Goff continued his run of efficiency with 252 yards and a touchdown, while the running game combined for more than 100 yards on the ground. They keep finding different ways, along with a strong defense, to show people are not to take this team lightly.
I have no idea what to make of the Lions, knowing they can absolutely make the playoffs and get bashed in the wild card round. But Dan Campbell has coached this team to another win and as far as it goes, but enjoy the ride so far, Detroit. It’s a crazy one so far.
Panthers analysis
The Carolina Panthers absolutely let a chance get by them on Sunday. They could’ve inched closer to the NFC South, knowing the egg the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were going to lay, but the Panthers are still very much in the thick of things with the division still up for grabs.
Carolina is coming off a 24-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that ended their four-game ATS winning streak. The Panthers were a rare 2.5-point favorite against the lackluster Steelers and also saw a rare over cash for the second time in five games.
Sam Darnold is still the quarterback and is coming off a decent 225-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Steelers. The problem is Pittsburgh held the Carolina run game to just 21 rushing yards total.
The Panthers are going to need a more complete offensive game in order to finish this season strong. Against a good Lions defense, that’ll be tough.
Prediction
The Panthers are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight Week 16 games, if you could believe that kind of stat. As fate would have it, they’re not to be trusted late into the season. Detroit is just too en fuego right now. Lions by 10
Betting trends
Lions are 21-10 ATS in all games the last 2 seasons.
Lions are 15-6 ATS against conference opponents the last 2 seasons.
Panthers are 1-11 ATS off an over the last 2 seasons.
Panthers are 4-13 ATS at home after the first month of the season the last 3 seasons.
Statistical leaders
Lions:
Passing: Jared Goff – 3,604 yards, 23 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Jamaal Williams – 839 yards, 14 TD
Receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown – 974 yards, 6 TD
Defense: Aidan Hutchinson – 7 sacks
Panthers:
Passing: Sam Darnold – 509 yards, 3 TD
Rushing: D’Onta Foreman – 646 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: DJ Moore – 678 yards, 5 TD
Defense: Brian Burns – 10.5 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
