Cardinals vs. Panthers: NFL Week 2 Odds, Prediction

The Cardinals will meet their second straight NFC South opponent in Week 2 at home against the Panthers. 

Arizona picked up a 20-13 win over the Saints in Week 1. Kyler Murray and company covered the spread as a 6.5-point road favorite in that spot, joining the 49ers and Rams as Week 1 winners. 

Carolina struggled in Week 1, falling to the Jaguars as four-point road underdogs. It marks a weak start for Dave Canales, a top choice for NFL Coach of the Year. 

Bet on Cardinals vs. Panthers and other NFL matchups with up-to-date NFL odds. 

Cardinals vs. Panthers: NFL Week 2 Odds

Cardinals vs. Panthers Prediction

Sunday, September 7

Based on the Saints’ offensive success against the Cardinals and Murray’s weak ATS record as a market favorite, my Cardinals vs Panthers prediction is the Panthers Spread (+6.5, -105). 

Take a guess which offense produced more red zone trips in Cardinals at Saints. If you picked the Saints (4) over the Cardinals (3), congrats on your pick. 

Arizona did its best to give the game away. However, aiding their win was New Orleans’ inefficient red zone play and untimely penalty. 

Referees penalized New Orleans 13 times in Week 1. Additionally, the Saints offense finished 1-for-4 scoring touchdowns from within the red zone. 

For the entire game, yards per play finished 4.6-4.5 in New Orleans’ favor. That creates a natural sell-high spot on the Cardinals. 

Even more encouraging is Murray’s ATS struggles as a market favorite. He owns an aforementioned 14-19 ATS record, including 5-8 between -3.5 and -6.5. 

The Panthers, which stayed within this number last year against Arizona, also match a historically profitable betting system. 

Since 2004, conference road dogs are 45-10 ATS in games 2-13, assuming three factors:

• The spread falls between +2.5 and +13.5
• The team’s pythagorean win percentage falls between 4.4% and 12.3%
• The favorite has 7 days between games

When those dogs fall between +5.5 and +7: 13-2 ATS. 

As a result, I like Carolina to bounce back from Week 1 and cover the spread. 

Wednesday, September 3

Based on Murray’s poor ATS record as a market favorite, my lookahead Cardinals vs Panthers prediction is the Carolina Panthers Spread (+4.5, -110). 

Even if you think Arizona wins the game, I question whether they cover two key numbers. 

Murray has struggled as a market favorite in his career. He’s 13-19 ATS in such spots, including 4-14 between -2 and -5.5. 

Comparatively, he’s 34-16-2 ATS as a market underdog. 

These teams also met in Week 16 last year, a 36-30 Carolina win. From Week 12 onward, the Panthers stayed within this number four times in seven games. 

While the defense struggled in those games – 32 points per game allowed – it was an incredibly injured unit. Plus, defense generally proves more fluid year over year. 

It’s also a historically profitable spot to back the Panthers. Early in the year, bad dogs perform well ATS against non-playoff teams from the year prior. 

Since ‘05, road dogs in games 1-2 are 40-12-4 (76.9%) ATS, assuming three factors:

• Both teams missed the playoffs the previous year
• The underdog won between 4 and 6 games the prior year
• The spread falls between +1 and +6.5

When those dogs fall between +3.5 and +6.5: 23-4 ATS. 

Betting Cardinals vs. Panthers: NFL Public Betting