New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers – Odds, Betting Lines, and Picks for Week 3 of NFL Season

• The Carolina Panthers host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Sept 25
• Carolina is one of five 0-2 teams in the NFL, the Saints lost in Week 2 to the Buccaneers
• See the Saints vs Panthers picks and odds ahead of their Week 3 clash, and our pick below

One of five teams that’s started 0-2 this year, the Carolina Panthers’ season is already on the brink as they host the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.

The Saints haven’t exactly been lighting the league on fire, either, coming off a mistake-laden loss to the Buccaneers at home to fall to 1-1. They’re also dealing with injuries to both starting QB Jameis Winston and running back Alvin Kamara.

Still, the visitors are the 2.5-point favorites in this one.

It all gets underway at Sunday (September 25) at Bank of America Stadium at 1pm ET, in a game that can be seen live on FOX.

Saints vs Panthers Odds

Odds as of September 24th from Barstool Sporstbook. 

The NFL Betting Trends tilt comfortably in New Orleans’ favor. They are taking in 71% of the bets on the spread, and 69% on the moneyline. It’s a much tighter wager on the total, with 53% betting the over.

Weather won’t be a factor in Carolina, where they’re expecting sunny skies with some cloudy breaks, and a kickoff temperature of 76 degrees.

New Orleans Betting Outlook

To put it bluntly, Jameis Winston has struggled against the Panthers his entire career. He’s won just four times in 10 games, and has a near 2-to-1 interception (16) to touchdown pass (9) ratio. He’s also coughed it up eight times on fumbles, and has been sacked 36 times.

Shaq Attack 🦈

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/dOWFPVSZaR

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 18, 2022

Winston is coming off a poor performance against Tampa, throwing for 236 yards and three fourth-quarter interceptions, including a backbreaking pick-6 to give Tampa it’s final score of the game.

He was also sacked six times, taken down 10 times in NOLA’s first two games.

.@M__Edwards7 with the pick 6️⃣

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/kIitUmdDIj

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 18, 2022

He also showed up on the injury report, dealing with both ankle and back injuries. While he is listed as questionable, there’s no indication Winston will sit out Sunday. Alvin Kamara (rib), who missed the Week 2 loss, is questionable.

Also notable on the Saints’ injury report are Taysom Hill, the current leading rusher on the team, and starting safety Marcus Maye. Each are dealing with rib injuries, and both are listed as questionable.

Carolina Betting Outlook

If the Panthers could put together even an above-competent offensive performance, they could quite possibly be 2-0 on the year. Carolina currently ranks 12th in defensive DVOA and are a top-10 unit in Expected Points Added (EPA).

Most sacked QB’s in #Panthers history:

🥇 Matt Ryan (65)
🥈 Drew Brees (43)
🥉 Jameis Winston (36) pic.twitter.com/0HOLSFdnZe

— Michael Rimmer (@avl_mike) March 22, 2022

They’ve surrendered a modest 22.5 points per game this season, though that was against the wildly underwhelming QB group of Jacoby Brissett and Daniel Jones.

Unfortunately, the Panthers are only averaging 20 points a game. Baker Mayfield has struggled in his new digs and is coming off a 14-for-29 passing performance for just 145 yards and a touchdown in a 19-16 loss to the Giants.

Baker Mayfield on his play thus far:

“I’ve got to command this group better.” pic.twitter.com/p3M4heKKkZ

— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) September 21, 2022

Where they’re really struggling is on third down, where Carolina has converted just 26% of their opportunities, good for 29th in the NFL.  It won’t get any easier against a traditionally sound Saints’ defense, who have limited teams to a 33.3% conversion rate in the early season.

Perhaps offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is still gun shy in unleashing stud back Christian McCaffrey into the gameplan, after he started the year with some ankle issues. CMC has been targeted just 10 times in the passing game through two weeks.

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK

Offer

T&Cs

Bet $5 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins

Must be 21+. T&C Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

LOCK IN PROMO

SIGNUP PROMO

BET $5
GET $200

BET NOW

Saints vs Panthers Pick

In NFL speak, you are literally staring into the abyss if you enter Week 3 at 0-2. Since 2002, 98 teams have started the year 0-3, and just one — the 2018 Houston Texans — has made the playoffs.

Carolina did a number on the visiting Saints and Winston a year ago, limiting him to an 11-for-22 passing day for 111 yards and two interceptions. He was also sacked four times as the Panthers rolled to a 26-7 win.

Look for the Panthers’ defense to go kitchen sink on NOLA. I don’t know if it will be enough for a win, but enough to keep it close.

The Pick:

• Panthers +2.5 (-110); 1.5 units to win 1.86 units
• Week 2 record: 1-2; Overall: 1-2 ATS, 1-0 O/U, -3.53 units