The Washington Commanders will host the Carolina Panthers in this preseason contest.
The Panthers are aiming for a competitive season after a miserable 2021 campaign. They have the potential to rebound with Christian McCaffrey set to return from injury and newly acquired Baker Mayfield in the picture.
Meanwhile, the Commanders also labored last season. They finished third in the NFC East. But they also could make a Wild Card run in 2022.
Experts Expectations
Most experts are still down on the Commanders. But don’t be shocked if they upset expectations and post a decent season.
This projects to be an exciting matchup between Carolina and Washington. <The kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM EST at FedEx Field. Let’s take a look at the Commanders vs. Jaguars betting predictions.
NFL 2021-22 Scoreboard
The Commanders and Panthers both struggled last season. But both teams made improvements this offseason and are hopeful for bounce-back years in 2022.
And although this preseason game may seem insignificant, the first game of the season has the power to set the tone for the entire year.
Matchup Information
The kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 1 PM EST. Although the day of this game makes it feel like a college football affair, we are just happy to see NFL games back.
The Panthers have a QB battle occurring between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. So that will be their main storyline for this game. For Washington, they are just looking to see how their young players perform in the preseason.
Commanders vs. Panthers Betting Analysis
Last season, the Commanders certainly didn’t see the best results. And that narrative applies to their ATS record. Washington went just 7-9-1 ATS last year. Although that isn’t terrible, it could have been better.
The Commanders went 3-5 ATS when playing at their home field a season ago. They went 202 ATS when favored to win.
The Panthers were unable to find any form of consistency a season ago. They had potential, but it never came together. Perhaps, this is a year Carolina figures things out.
Carolina finished tied for last with a 5-12 ATS record in 2021. They went 3-6 ATS as the road team and 3-7 when playing as the underdog.
Commanders Analysis
The Commanders are aiming to utilize a number of young players this season. They are still rebuilding, but there is talent ready to emerge on this roster.
QB Carson Wentz isn’t a superstar by any means, but his veteran presence on this roster should help the team. Having a stable veteran like Wentz on the team works wonders for younger players.
Panthers Analysis
The discussion has revolved around the aforementioned QB battle for the Panthers. However, the defense is expected to be the strength of this team. They upgraded on the defensive line and should perform well against the run.
The Panthers are going to force opponents to pass the ball this season. Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey is a game-changing running back. He will be important for the Panthers if he can stay healthy this year.
Teams Latest News
The Commanders fired defensive line coach Sam Mills III on Tuesday. It was a surprising move with the season just a month away. But it was a decision that Washington felt they needed to make.
For Carolina, Baker Mayfield is expected to win the quarterback battle. He features a higher upside and has displayed success in the past. However, the Panthers don’t have any desire to trade Sam Darnold and will value him as a backup if Mayfield wins the job.
Washington Commanders vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Preview
So who wins this game? Can the Commanders take care of business as the favorites, or will the Panthers upset the odds?
Betting on the underdog tends to pay off in these NFL matchups. Teams aren’t running out their full starting lineups for entire games, so the outcome could go either way.
So I like taking a risk on the underdogs. Plus, Mayfield and Darnold are in a QB battle and will be motivated to play well. So go ahead and take the Panthers despite the NFL odds.
Commanders vs. Panthers Betting Prediction
With the NFL schedule finally set to get rolling, go ahead and place your bet on the Carolina Panthers to upset the odds and earn a victory in this game.
Who to Bet On?
The majority of sportsbooks list the Commanders as narrow favorites. So for your betting NFL picks, taking the Panthers makes sense as a spread selection.
Washington has to win by a specific amount in order to cover the spread. So the Panthers have an excellent opportunity to upset the odds.
NFL Pick: Panthers +3 (-110)
If you love sports and want more sports betting information follow us as @InsidersBetDig on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list for free betting picks.