Upstart Panthers Look to Continue Hot Start in Houston
The Carolina Panthers hit the road on a shortened week as they take on the Houston Texans to kick off Week 3 of the NFL season Thursday night. The Panthers are 2-0 for the first time since 2017 after a dismantling of the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, 26-7. Take a look to Panthers at Texans betting preview.
Houston proved its Week 1 win over Jacksonville may not have been a fluke as the Texans hung around with Cleveland on Sunday before falling 31-21.
Game Odds
Carolina will be the favorites for the second time this season as sportsbooks has the Panthers opening as a 7.5-point favorite. Bettors will have -110 odds on either team covering the spread, while BetUS has not set a Moneyline for either team as of Monday morning. The Over/Under is set at 43 points, tied for the second-lowest point total of Week 3, with -110 odds on either side of the number.
Defense Paving the Way
They won’t be mistaken as the Steel Curtain or the Monsters of the Midway, but through the first two weeks, the Carolina defense is tops in the league. The Panthers boast the league’s best scoring defense (10.5 points per game) in addition to overall defense in allowing just 190 yards per game. Carolina has allowed just 287 yards through the air and a meager 93 rushing yards through the first two games, tops in both categories.
The Carolina D has also recorded 10 sacks and three interceptions this season while not allowing a point in the first half of either game.
First Career Start
Texans rookie quarterback David Mills is expected to get the start on Thursday. Mills replaced Tyrod Taylor late in the first half on Sunday as Taylor left with a hamstring injury. Mills finished Sunday’s loss with 102 passing yards while completing just 8 of 18 passes. The rookie did have a touchdown toss in the 10-point loss.
Taylor had completed 10 of 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game.
Texans Head Coach David Culley has said even with Taylor being sidelined, DeShaun Watson still will not see any game action on Thursday.
Grounded
After racking up 160 yards on the ground in their Week 1 win over Jacksonville, the Texans were limited to just 82 yards on the ground in Sunday’s loss. Mark Ingram led the way with 41 yards on 14 totes, while David Johnson added 26 yards on six carries. The 31-year old Ingram has 126 rushing yards on 40 carries this season.
Fresh Start
Sam Darnold compiled just a 13-25 record as the starting QB for the New York Jets. The fourth-year pro out of USC is enjoying his new home as he has completed 50 of 73 passes on the season for 584 yards and three touchdowns.
Darnold was 26 of 38 with 305 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s win over New Orleans.
Back to Old Form
Christian McCaffrey picked up 72 rushing yards and 65 receiving yards in Sunday’s win. Through the first two games, the dynamic back has 324 yards from scrimmage on the season and is showing no signs of rust after missing most of last season due to injuries.
Trends
Both Carolina and Houston are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games. The Panthers are 7-0 ATS in their last seven road contests. Houston is just 3-9 ATS in its last 12 Thursday night games.
The Under has hit in four of the last five meetings between the two teams.
Free Pick: Under 43
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