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Panthers vs 49ers Week 8 Opening Spread Favors San Francisco by Six Points

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated Apr 10, 2020 · 1:31 PM PDT

Jimmy Garappolo coming up to line of scrimmage
Jimmy Garappolo and the San Francisco 49ers are undefeated and have 10-1 odds to win the Super Bowl. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire.
  • The San Francisco 49ers are six-point favorites at home over the Carolina Panthers in Week 8
  • The Niners are 6-0 to open a season for the first time since 1990
  • Carolina is returning to action off its bye week

Sixes are wild for the San Francisco 49ers. As the Niners prepare to play host to the Carolina Panthers in Week 8 of the NFL season, they are an NFC-leading 6-0. That the team’s best start to a season since 1990.

Sportsbooks have also made San Fran a six-point favorite over Carolina in the Panthers vs 49ers odds & stats.

Carolina Panthers vs San Francisco 49ers Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Over/Under
Carolina Panthers n/a +6 (-110) Over 41.5 (-110)
San Francisco 49ers n/a -6 (-110) Under 41.5 (-110)

Odds taken 10/20/19.

The Panthers are 4-2 on the season, and riding a four-game winning streak with Kyle Allen at QB.

Can Panthers Move On The 49ers?

There are two unbeaten teams left in the NFL. Those two teams are also 1-2 in the league in total defense.

The Niners are allowing 237.4 yards per game, second only to the 234.7 permitted by the 6-0 New England Patriots.

Sunday, in the rain and slop at Washington, the 49ers defense controlled the game. They limited the Redskins to 154 total yards, and just 50 through the air.

San Francisco’s league-leading pass defense (150.2 ypg) has allowed only 98 yards in the last two games. According to NFL Research, that’s the third-fewest yards allowed by the team in a two-game span during the Super Bowl era, and the fewest over a two-game span by the club since Weeks 8-9 of the 1977 season (62 yards).

The Niners are also sixth at stopping the run (87.2 ypg), which will be vital as they face Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, third in NFL rushing at 618 yards.

The Panthers rank 11th in the NFL in overall defense (344 ypg) but are second in the league with 15 takeaways.

By The Bye

The Panthers are coming back from their bye week after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-26 in London, England two weeks ago.

They’ve had time to overcome any jet lag. As well, they’ve had two weeks to decipher a plan of attack to overcome the unbeaten 49ers.

No one need convince San Francisco of the value gained from a week’s rest. The 49ers came back from their bye this season and crushed the Cleveland Browns 31-3, easily covering the spread as five-point favorites.

Overall this season, teams coming back off their bye week are 4-3 straight up and 3-4 against the spread. Carolina is 6-5 SU and 5-6 ATS in the first game back from a bye since the 2010 season.

Panthers Seem Enticing . . . But Don’t Bite

On the surface, this reads like a trap game for the Niners. Carolina is coming off its bye. Allen is 4-0 both SU and ATS as a starter.

There are other numbers that lean in Carolina’s favor. The Panthers are 6-1 SU in their last seven and 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against San Francisco. They’re 4-1 ATS in their past five road games. As well, the Niners are 0-2 ATS this season when giving six or more points.

Don’t buy into the hype. The early money figures to back the Panthers, which should reduce the juice on the 49ers. That’s when you pounce and bet San Francisco to cover the spread.

Much is made about Allen’s nine TD passes against zero interceptions. But what’s overlooked are his four lost fumbles.

Allen hasn’t seen a defense like this all year. The four defenses he’s faced so far were 26th or worst in the league at defending the pass.

Wait for the line to inevitably shorten, and then bet the Niners.

Pick: San Francisco -6 (-110)


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