Carolina Panthers vs
New Orleans SaintsPredictions & Preview

New Orleans Saints to Face Carolina Panthers in NFC South Season Opener, Derek Carr Makes Debut at Quarterback

This Sunday at 1:00 PM EDT, the New Orleans Saints will face off against the Carolina Panthers in what is expected to be an exciting NFC South season opener. The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports, with the Saints favored by 4 points and an Over/Under set at 41.5. Derek Carr will make his debut as the starting quarterback for New Orleans, while Bryce Young leads Carolina in this crucial first game of the season. As the rivals prepare to battle it out, fans and analysts alike are gearing up for a competitive and electrifying matchup that will set the tone for the rest of the season. It is worth noting that New Orleans is the betting favorite, with the current line set at New Orleans -4 after opening at -3.5.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Panthers +172 | Saints -200
• Spread: Panthers +4 (-110) | Saints -4 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 41.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that New Orleans will win straight-up is 67%.

Carolina vs New Orleans Stats

Carolina Panthers

The New Orleans Saints have found stability and comfort with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, allowing quarterback Derek Carr to fully understand the system and focus on execution. Despite last year's unsatisfactory results, Carr is confident heading into the regular season with mutual trust established. The Saints had a balanced offensive approach in 2023 but struggled with efficiency, especially in the running game. Heading into the 2024 season opener, they are dealing with several key injuries on both offense and defense, requiring them to rely on depth and adjust their game plan accordingly. Conversely, the Carolina Panthers are currently ranked 31st in the power rankings, with their offense scoring an average of 13.88 points per game and their defense allowing an average of 24.47 points against them.

New Orleans Saints Analysis

The Carolina Panthers, led by quarterback Bryce Young, will open their 2024 season against the New Orleans Saints. Under new head coach Dave Canales, with key additions to the offensive line like Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, the Panthers present new challenges for the Saints defense. Despite their lower emphasis on the run in the 2023 season, the Panthers leaned more towards passing, with Young benefiting from Canales' offensive mindset. However, the Panthers have injury concerns with tight ends Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble heading into the matchup. The New Orleans Saints, ranked 4th in the power rankings, have a strong offense and defense, and Carolina has gone 2-1 in their last 3 matchups against them.

Carolina Panthers Struggle in 2023 Season, New Orleans Saints Set to Dominate 2024 Season Opener

During the 2023 season, the Carolina Panthers faced significant challenges, ranking poorly in various statistical categories. Offensively, they struggled with the lowest yards per game and yards per play in the league, placing 32nd in both categories. Defensively, they ranked 29th in points allowed per game and 31st in points per play. Additionally, the team had low third and fourth down conversion rates, as well as a poor red zone performance. Their overall record against the spread was 4-11-2, with a particularly weak performance on the road and in conference games.

Conversely, the New Orleans Saints had a notable 2023 season, showcasing strong defensive and offensive performances. They excelled in points allowed per game, yards per game, and points per play. While they struggled against the spread at times, they showed improvement toward the end of the season. As they prepare to face the Panthers in the 2024 season opener, the Saints appear to have the advantage based on their 2023 performance and offseason changes.

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