Panthers Reassert Themselves as Super Bowl 53 Contenders After Week 8
- Panthers’ Super Bowl 53 odds have rebounded following shaky start
- Favorable schedule leaves Panthers in control of their destiny
- Carolina’s contender status will be tested in late-season dates with Saints
After struggling with consistency during their first five outings of the 2018 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers have found their groove in the past two weeks. (See the Top 5 tab in the graph below.)
Average Odds to Win Super Bowl 53
The Panthers have claimed outright victories in two straight contests to keep pace with the red-hot New Orleans Saints in NFC South standings, while boosting their Super Bowl odds to a season-best +2300 average on the NFL futures.
Super Bowl 53 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | +275 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | +550 |
| New England Patriots | +550 |
| New Orleans Saints | +650 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | +1600 |
| Carolina Panthers | +2200 |
*For all betting options, follow the link in the table
An Uninspired Start
Listed as a +2600 wager on the Super Bowl odds on opening day, the Panthers turned in uninspiring performances in their first two contests of 2018.
The squad eked out a narrow 16-8 victory over Dallas as 3-point home chalk in Week 1, followed by 31-24 Week 2 loss to the injury-riddled Atlanta Falcons, that also kicked off a worrisome 1-3 run against the spread.
FINAL: @AtlantaFalcons get it done! #InBrotherhood #CARvsATL pic.twitter.com/cWI8wK35Wt
— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2018
Carolina has put the brakes on their slide at the online sports betting sites with a pair of character victories.
Led by quarterback Cam Newton, the team erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to knock off the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, 21-17, as 5-point road underdogs two weeks ago.
The Panthers looked like world beaters last weekend while running up the score in a 36-21 win over the notoriously stingy Baltimore Ravens as 2.5-point home underdogs, seizing sole possession of the top NFC wild card with a 5-2 record.
But has the Panthers’ current surge lifted them among the elite teams in the NFC?
How Do Panthers Stack Up Against NFC’s Elite
It is tough to include the Panthers in the conversation alongside the Los Angeles Rams, who look towards their epic Week 9 matchup with the Saints with a league-leading 8-0 record.
The Rams sit at, or near, the top of most offensive team stats, and have outgunned opponents by a wide 33.0-19.4 margin this season, earning them the perch on the Super Bowl 53 odds as +275 favorites.
.@CameronNewton's Week 8 Highlights from the @Panthers' win over the Ravens! #BALvsCAR #KeepPounding https://t.co/hsQcZ96Qd9
— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2018
The Panthers will also have to get past New Orleans if they are to march towards their first-ever Super Bowl title.
Led by veteran passer Drew Brees, who has rewritten the NFL record during a campaign worthy of NFL MVP consideration, the Saints have won six straight, and will likely enjoy a lift on their current +650 Super Bowl odds if they can hand Los Angeles its first loss of the season – they are pegged as 1.5-point home chalk.
Panthers Control Their Own Destiny
Despite being faced with the daunting task of competing with arguably the two best teams in the NFL this season, the Panthers still control their own destiny.
While three of their final dates against non-divisional opponents come on the road, the Panthers will have the chance to pad the win column with upcoming road clashes with non-playoff teams in Detroit and Cleveland, as well as a home meeting with the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving Weekend.
If the #NFL playoffs started today…. pic.twitter.com/Xdkbyx7N9c
— Mike Wickett 🇺🇲🎙🏈🏀👨👧👧👩👦🤘🚀 (@mikewickett) October 28, 2018
However, it is a heavy diet of matchups with divisional rivals that will likely make or break the Panthers’ Super Bowl aspirations.
In addition to this week’s tilt with the fading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as 6.5-point home chalk, the Panthers can look forward to a Week 13 visit to Tampa Bay, where they have won five of seven, while surrendering more than 19 points just once.
A heavy diet of matchups with divisional rivals that will likely make or break the Panthers’ Super Bowl aspirations
Carolina could also find itself jockeying for position in its Week 16 home date with the Falcons.
In addition, it will likely be the two meetings with the Saints in Weeks 15 and 17 that determine whether the Panthers can contend with the NFC’s reigning powerhouses.
Newton Worthy of MVP Consideration
But Carolina’s championship hopes begin and end with quarterback Cam Newton.
The 29-year-old has done it all for the Panthers this season, tossing 13 touchdowns while scrambling for over 300 yards and two scores.
If Carolina can continue their hot pace and emerge as legitimate contenders, Newton will be worthy of serious consideration on the NFL MVP odds, where he is currently pegged at a distant +2000.
Cam Newton — Heisman winner, MVP, recent Super Bowl quarterback — is somehow overlooked. But he's still one of the NFL's best. https://t.co/EO2uD2R1z3
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) October 28, 2018
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
