Week 8 will bring a battle between NFC South foes when the Atlanta Falcons host the Carolina Panthers. They both have losing records, but the Falcons are in first place in the division at 3-4, with the Panthers sitting one game behind them. In our continued NFL odds coverage, in this post we’ll be making our Falcons-Panthers prediction and picks.
Falcons-Panthers: Week 8 NFL Betting Picks & Predictions
Falcons-Panthers Odds (via Bet MGM)
Spread: Falcons -4
Over/Under: 41.5 points
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Time: 1 p.m. EST
Watch: FOX
Falcons Offense-Panthers Defense
The Falcons don’t have a ton of dangerous wide receivers, running back Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) has missed three games, and they have Marcus Mariota at quarterback, who was a backup for the Las Vegas Raiders the last two seasons. But they have averaged 23.3 points per game, which is more than teams including the Cowboys (19.1), Packers (18.3) and Rams (17.3). Mariota has done a good job of limiting turnovers, throwing just four interceptions to go along with seven passing touchdowns and three rushing scores.
It’s no secret that the Falcons want to run the ball early and often. The Panthers defense has been middle of the pack in that department, allowing 120.9 rushing yards per game. They also don’t apply much pressure on the opposing quarterback, generating just 10 sacks for the season. Only the Raiders and Detroit Lions have fewer with nine each. Their defense could be further hampered if they don’t get back cornerback Jaycee Horn (ribs), who has missed their past two games.
Panthers Offense-Falcons Defense
The Panthers offense already looks a lot different than it did in Week 1. Gone is star running back Christian McCaffrey, who was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. They have also turned to PJ Walker at quarterback with Baker Mayfield (ankle) injured. Even if Mayfield is healthy for this game, head coach Steve Wilks has already said that Walker will start. He helped the Panthers to an upset win over the Buccaneers in Week 7, throwing for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
The Falcons defense has not been good, allowing the ninth-most points per game in the NFL. They have been demolished through the air, allowing the most passing yards per game and 13 passing touchdowns. Like the Panthers, they also don’t have much of a pass rush, generating just 11 sacks for the season.
Final Falcons-Panthers Prediction & Pick
The Falcons were picked apart by the Cincinnati Bengals last week, while the Panthers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season over the Buccaneers. With that being said, the Falcons should still be favored here, and by a significant margin. Walker is not a prolific passer by any means, throwing four touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions for his career. This will be a difficult task for him on the road. The NFL Player Props Tool has Walker projected to throw for 217.3 yards and 1.2 touchdowns. The Falcons are 2-1 at home, with their only loss coming by one point to the New Orleans Saints. Look for the Falcons to control this game on the ground and win in convincing fashion.
Final Falcons-Panthers Pick: Falcons -4 at Bet MGM
