NFL Week 6 Odds: Panthers Open as 1.5-Point Underdogs vs Bucs Despite Winning Three Straight Games

• Panthers have won three straight and are 3-2 ATS this season
• Total points for Falcons and Cardinals game opens at 51.5
• Patriots listed as 16-point favorites in Week 6 game vs Giants

The Carolina Panthers have surged into second place in the NFC South with backup quarterback Kyle Allen leading the charge.

Allen has won three straight starts since taking over for the injured Cam Newton as the starting QB for the Panthers, who are listed as 1.5-point underdogs heading into their Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It is one of the smallest opening spreads, but let’s break down some of the other odds, moneylines and point totals for Week 6.

Week 6 Opening Spreads

All odds taken 10/07/19.

Tampa Favored in NFC South Showdown

The matchup between the Panthers and Bucs opened as one of the two pick’em games on the spread, but the odds shifted in favor of Tampa Bay.

The Panthers dropped their opening two games and when Newton went down with a foot injury in Week 2 against the Bucs, it didn’t look good for the team going forward.

However, the combination of Allen and running back Christian McCaffrey have kept the Panthers in contention as Newton continues to recover.

STILL UNBEATEN!

The @Panthers are 3-0 since Kyle Allen took over at QB! pic.twitter.com/dezUXhhFDI

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2019

The Panthers are above .500 ATS this season, posting an overall record of 3-2, but are 1-2 on home field heading into Week 6. Conversely, the Bucs are 2-3 ATS this season, but are 1-2 on the road.

However, with this game being played in London, it’s tough to assume one trend will carryover for either team.

Patriots Listed as 16-Point Favorites Against Giants

The New England Patriots moved to 5-0 with a 33-7 win over the Washington Redskins, as they covered the spread in what has led to Jay Gruden’s firing in Washington.

The Pats will face another non-playoff team in Week 6, which is why oddsmakers have listed the defending Super Bowl champions as the early 16-point favorites.

When the lines opened on Sunday, the Pats were the 14.5 favorites, but the spread moved to -16 for the Patriots following yet another dominant victory to remain undefeated after five weeks of action.

The Patriots also opened as heavy -900 favorites to beat the Giants, who are +675 underdogs on the moneyline.

Prior to defeating the Redskins on Sunday, the Pats had not covered in their last two games. The schedule is going to get much harder for New England, but look for the Patriots to cover the spread against another lowly outfit on Thursday night.

Total Points For Cardinals-Falcons Opens at 51.5

The largest point total for Week 6 comes in a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals.

With two of the worst defenses in the NFL set to clash, sportsbooks are predicting this may be a shootout, setting the total points at 51.5.

However, the opening odds have been set extremely high considering the Falcons and Cardinals are near the bottom of the league in total points scored and PPG average this season.

Arizona, which has posted an O/U record of 3-2 this season, is averaging 18.5 points per game while Atlanta is right behind at 17.5 heading into their Week 6 matchup.

Expect the total points odds for this game to likely come down as the week progresses.

Other Spreads to Watch Closely

Oddsmakers have the game between the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars as the only pick game on the spread this week.

The Saints have won three straight and sit at the top of the NFC South Division, while the Jags are 2-1 in their last three.

The Monday Nighter will be an intriguing matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions. After defeating the Dallas Cowboys on the road, the Packers enter Week 6 as 6-point favorites against the Lions.

Both of these NFC North teams are 3-1 ATS this season, but Green Bay is 2-1 at Lambeau Field, while the Lions are 1-1 away from Ford Field.