Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers: Full Week 17 Betting Preview

It’s an end-of-season tilt with all kinds of postseason implications as the Carolina Panthers (11-4, 9-6 ATS) close out the regular season campaign against the division-rival Falcons (9-6, 6-9 ATS) on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (Dec. 31, 4:25 PM ET).

Below, you will find complete wagering advice for the game, including where to find the best odds and how to bet the moneyline, the spread, and the game total.

Team Injury Reports

FALCONS

PANTHERS

Falcons vs Panthers Team Stats

The Matchup

There’s not a squad that can move as high or drop as low as the Panthers in playoff seeding. Take care of business in this one, and they have an outside chance of locking up the no. 2 seed. Lose, and the dominoes could tumble them down into the no. 5 hole, forcing them to start on the road on Wild Card weekend.

How fitting, since the Panthers have been such an up-and-down team, far more than their record indicates. Cam Newton can be both all-world and disengaged in the same half, and the team can — and often does — play down to its competition, as they did in a near loss to the Bucs last week; yet the Panthers can also topple giants, like they did three weeks ago when they beat up the Vikings (31-24) or Week 4 when they conquered the Patriots in Foxborough (33-30).

Newton doesn’t always need to be at his best for Carolina to win, be he will need to affect this game in some capacity, whether on the ground or through the air, if the Panthers are going to leave Atlanta with a W. Getting Jonathan Stewart rumbling will also be key. Atlanta’s porous defense, which is 25th in DVOA against the run, will give him that opportunity.

If the Falcons hope to lock up the no. 6 seed, they are going to need to rely on reigning MVP Matt Ryan and try to outscore their deficiencies. Problem is, this isn’t the same unit that torched defenses en route to a Super Bowl appearance last year. As up-and-down as the Panthers have been, they may have found a twin in the Falcons, who can’t seem to put together a solid 60 minutes.

As-healthy-as-he-can-be Julio Jones may not need to summon up his Week 12 annihilation-mode performance against Tampa Bay, but something dominant would be nice, if only to give Atlanta’s other playmakers a chance to spin.

Carolina’s defense isn’t quite wrecking ball we’ve come to expect in recent years, but is still plenty strong to hold this one close. If they can come through, Atlanta could be sent packing, with the Seahawks potentially jumping into the sixth and final playoff spot in the conference.

Stakes are high.

Falcons vs Panthers Betting Opportunities

Betting the Panthers vs Falcons Moneyline

BEST FALCONS MONEYLINE: -200

BEST PANTHERS MONEYLINE: +165

EXPERT MONEYLINE ADVICE: Panthers (+165)
The higher payout is the better value in this one. Carolina will do just enough to grind one out, and I expect Newton to be a major force on the ground, despite head coach Ron Rivera wanting to keep him protected and healthy heading into the playoffs. In their Week 9 win, Newton barely cracked 130 yards passing, but did rush for 86 yards and a TD and Carolina, as a team, had over two bills on the ground.

Betting the Falcons vs Panthers Against the Spread

BEST FALCONS SPREAD: -3.5

BEST PANTHERS SPREAD: +4

EXPERT AGAINST-THE-SPREAD ADVICE: Panthers (+4)
Atlanta is playing for its postseason life, and I’m still taking the Panthers. Julio Jones and Matt Ryan are two of the best players in the NFL, and I still think they’re slotted below the Panthers’ pivot this year. I’m going with the best player in this one, plus the points.

Betting the Falcons vs Panthers Game Total

BEST OVER ODDS: 44.5 (-110)

BEST UNDER ODDS: 45 (-110)

EXPERT TOTALS ADVICE: Under 45 (-110)
Expect this to be close down to the wire, with points hard-earned every step of the way. If Atlanta pulls out a throwback performance with Devonta Freeman racking up 100-plus on the ground, Julio Jones beasting out wide, and Taylor Gabriel taking a screen to the house, my apologies. But it’s a safer bet to expect these teams to scratch and claw till the buzzer.