Panthers strong favourites to improve to 15-0 in NFL betting
Daniel Coyle, American Sports Correspondent | December 24, 2015
The Carolina Panthers will look to extend their perfect record to 15-0 on Sunday, when they visit the Atlanta Falcons as 6-point favourites in NFL betting with Coral.
Last week, the Panthers became the first team to win their first 14 contests since the Indianapolis Colts accomplished the feat in 2009, escaping with a 38-35 win over the New York Giants on the strength of a last-second field goal.
But Carolina was unable to cover as 4.5-point favourites, dropping them to 10-4 against the spread on the year, and just 1-2 ATS in their last three.
The Falcons return home after handing the Jacksonville Jaguars a 23-17 loss in Week 15, picking up the outright win as 2-point road underdogs to end a six-game SU losing streak that has greatly diminished their playoff hopes.
With a 7-7 SU record, Atlanta trails both Minnesota and Seattle by two games in the NFC Wild Card hunt, and needs a win against Carolina, and next weekend against New Orleans, combined with a pair of losses by the Vikings to move on to the post-season.
However, the Falcons have picked up just one win in their last six meetings with Carolina, who handed them a 38-0 beating just two weeks ago, and have now scored 37 or more points in five of their last seven outings.
The Panthers’ continued dominance has earned them strong 8/15 odds of finishing the regular season at 16-0 in NFL 2015 Season Specials betting at Coral, and are a 4/1 bet to go undefeated en route to a win at Super Bowl 50.
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings (-4.5)
The 9-7 Vikings, meanwhile, play host to the Giants as 4.5-point favourites. Minnesota can clinch a playoff berth with a victory, and enters Week 15 within striking distance of Green Bay in the NFC North, who hold a tenuous one-game lead in the divisional standings.
The Vikings are just 2-3 SU in their past five after opening on a strong 7-2 run, but face a fading New York squad that has fallen from top spot in the NFC East with just one SU win in their past five.
New York will also be without star receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who will sit out Sunday’s game, serving a suspension for his unsportsmanlike antics in the Giants’ loss to Carolina last weekend.
A win over New York, combined with a Green Bay loss in Arizona on Sunday would set the stage for a showdown between the Vikings and Packers next week at Lambeau Field to decide the NFC North championship.
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals (-4.5)
The Packers visit the Cardinals as 4.5-point underdogs following their third straight win, a 30-20 victory over the Oakland Raiders last weekend, but Green Bay has been less than prolific offensively in recent weeks, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers failing to crack 300 yards in the air in each of his last five outings.
Green Bay has won seven of their last nine SU against Arizona, but just one of their last three at University of Phoenix Stadium, where the 12-2 Cardinals have won 16 of their last 19 SU.
Winners of eight straight overall, Arizona also has an eye on a first-round bye in this year’s playoffs, which they can secure with a win over the Packers.
In other NFL Week 16 betting action at Coral, the Washington Redskins can clinch the NFC East title with a win when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night, pegged as 3-point underdogs.
The Seahawks host the St. Louis Rams as heavy 13-point favourites, while the New York Jets try to keep their playoff hopes alive when they entertain the New England Patriots as 3-point underdogs, and the Colts visit the Miami Dolphins as 2.5-point underdogs.
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