Panthers, Delhomme travel to meet Atlanta Falcons
Coming off a season-opening loss in which he threw four picks and completed just seven passes to his own receivers, Jake Delhomme leads the Carolina Panthers into Atlanta for an early crucial test against the Falcons. Meanwhile out west in San Diego, the Chargers and Ravens meet in a key AFC matchup. San Diego star running back LaDainian Tomlinson may not be able to play against Ray Lewis and the Ravens D.
Among most handicappers’ picks to make some serious noise this season, both the Panthers and Chargers have questions to answer in Week 2.
Carolina went 12-4 (12-4 ATS) last season before Jake Delhomme’s awful showing in the Panthers’ drubbing to the Cardinals in the playoffs, and now he’s under the microscope after another dud last week.
San Diego slipped by Oakland in the second game of the Monday nighter, but the Chargers certainly didn’t look the part of Super Bowl contender. Can they cover against the Ravens, who might – wait for it – be developing an offense worth writing about?
Carolina at Atlanta (-7, 42)
Sunday, Sep 20, 1:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
Public bettors are all over the Falcons (1-0, 1-0 ATS) heading into their matchup with the Panthers (0-1, 0-1 ATS), although you can make a strong argument they’re simply fading Carolina.
Oddsmakers opened Atlanta as slim 2.5-point chalk early in the week, but bettors threw tons of cash at the Falcons. Atlanta is now on the board giving at least six points to Carolina at most sportsbooks, but it was available at –7 at a few locations. Looks like the public doesn’t have much confidence in Delhomme, who was awful in Carolina’s 38-10 loss at home to Philadelphia (-1) last week.
Delhomme finished 7-of-17 for 73 yards with four interceptions before being pulled in the third quarter in favor of Josh McCown. All told, the Panthers turned it over seven times against the Eagles, and managed only 169 yards of total offense on the day. Don’t expect Delhomme to go anywhere soon: McCown is on injured reserve after suffering left knee and foot injuries last week, while backup Matt Moore and the newly-inked A.J. Feeley aren’t ready to take the reins.
Atlanta stifled Miami 19-7 last week, covering as 4-point home favorites. Tight end Tony Gonzalez caught five passes for 73 yards with a touchdown in his debut, while Matt Ryan was 22-of-36 for 229 yards with two TD tosses for the Falcons. Michael Turner figures to be the focal point on Sunday after he rushed for 117 yards and four scores in Atlanta’s 45-28 win over Carolina at the Georgia Dome last season, when the Falcons walked to the bank as 1-point chalk.
The Over is the sharp play on the total, considering the Panthers’ propensity to give the ball away lately. Carolina is 7-2 O/U in its last nine games dating back to last season, and is 6-2 O/U in its last eight games as a road underdog.
Baltimore at San Diego (-3, 40)
Sunday, Sep 20, 4:15 p.m. (ET) CBS
The Chargers (1-0, 0-1 ATS) could be in for a rude awakening on their home turf when the Ravens (1-0, 1-0 ATS) come to Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
San Diego escaped with a 24-20 victory at Oakland (+10) last week because of a 5-yard touchdown run from backup running back Darren Sproles with 0:18 seconds left. The Bolts managed only 77 yards on the ground against the Raiders, and it won’t get any easier against a Ravens defense that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 games.
It doesn’t help that LaDainian Tomlinson (ankle) is questionable for Sunday’s game, leaving the diminutive Sproles to carry the load. If that’s not enough to side with Baltimore as 3-point pups, consider San Diego should also be without center Nick Hardwick (ankle) and guard Louis Vazquez (sprained knee); both are listed as doubtful.
Baltimore (-13) got past Kansas City 38-24 at home last week, but the score was little indication of much the Ravens dominated the Chiefs. Joe Flacco went 26-of-43 for 307 yards with three TDs and an interception, as the Baltimore offense racked up 501 yards offense in the payday. Even though it allowed 24 points to the lowly Chiefs, the vaunted Ravens defense held Kansas City to only 188 yards – good for the third lowest total in Week 1.
About 60% of wagers on the spread had come in on Baltimore through Friday night, forcing books to adjust the line. San Diego was giving four points when the spread was released, but it has been bet down to -3.5 and -3 across the board, with the possibility it could go even lower before kickoff.
Coming off a season-opening loss in which he threw four picks and completed just seven passes to his own receivers, Jake Delhomme leads the Carolina Panthers into Atlanta for an early crucial test against the Falcons. Meanwhile out west in San Diego, the Chargers and Ravens meet in a key AFC matchup. San Diego star running back LaDainian Tomlinson may not be able to play against Ray Lewis and the Ravens D.
Among most handicappers’ picks to make some serious noise this season, both the Panthers and Chargers have questions to answer in Week 2.
Carolina went 12-4 (12-4 ATS) last season before Jake Delhomme’s awful showing in the Panthers’ drubbing to the Cardinals in the playoffs, and now he’s under the microscope after another dud last week.
San Diego slipped by Oakland in the second game of the Monday nighter, but the Chargers certainly didn’t look the part of Super Bowl contender. Can they cover against the Ravens, who might – wait for it – be developing an offense worth writing about?
Carolina at Atlanta (-7, 42)
Sunday, Sep 20, 1:00 p.m. (ET) FOX
Public bettors are all over the Falcons (1-0, 1-0 ATS) heading into their matchup with the Panthers (0-1, 0-1 ATS), although you can make a strong argument they’re simply fading Carolina.
Oddsmakers opened Atlanta as slim 2.5-point chalk early in the week, but bettors threw tons of cash at the Falcons. Atlanta is now on the board giving at least six points to Carolina at most sportsbooks, but it was available at –7 at a few locations. Looks like the public doesn’t have much confidence in Delhomme, who was awful in Carolina’s 38-10 loss at home to Philadelphia (-1) last week.
Delhomme finished 7-of-17 for 73 yards with four interceptions before being pulled in the third quarter in favor of Josh McCown. All told, the Panthers turned it over seven times against the Eagles, and managed only 169 yards of total offense on the day. Don’t expect Delhomme to go anywhere soon: McCown is on injured reserve after suffering left knee and foot injuries last week, while backup Matt Moore and the newly-inked A.J. Feeley aren’t ready to take the reins.
Atlanta stifled Miami 19-7 last week, covering as 4-point home favorites. Tight end Tony Gonzalez caught five passes for 73 yards with a touchdown in his debut, while Matt Ryan was 22-of-36 for 229 yards with two TD tosses for the Falcons. Michael Turner figures to be the focal point on Sunday after he rushed for 117 yards and four scores in Atlanta’s 45-28 win over Carolina at the Georgia Dome last season, when the Falcons walked to the bank as 1-point chalk.
The Over is the sharp play on the total, considering the Panthers’ propensity to give the ball away lately. Carolina is 7-2 O/U in its last nine games dating back to last season, and is 6-2 O/U in its last eight games as a road underdog.
Baltimore at San Diego (-3, 40)
Sunday, Sep 20, 4:15 p.m. (ET) CBS
The Chargers (1-0, 0-1 ATS) could be in for a rude awakening on their home turf when the Ravens (1-0, 1-0 ATS) come to Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
San Diego escaped with a 24-20 victory at Oakland (+10) last week because of a 5-yard touchdown run from backup running back Darren Sproles with 0:18 seconds left. The Bolts managed only 77 yards on the ground against the Raiders, and it won’t get any easier against a Ravens defense that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 games.
It doesn’t help that LaDainian Tomlinson (ankle) is questionable for Sunday’s game, leaving the diminutive Sproles to carry the load. If that’s not enough to side with Baltimore as 3-point pups, consider San Diego should also be without center Nick Hardwick (ankle) and guard Louis Vazquez (sprained knee); both are listed as doubtful.
Baltimore (-13) got past Kansas City 38-24 at home last week, but the score was little indication of much the Ravens dominated the Chiefs. Joe Flacco went 26-of-43 for 307 yards with three TDs and an interception, as the Baltimore offense racked up 501 yards offense in the payday. Even though it allowed 24 points to the lowly Chiefs, the vaunted Ravens defense held Kansas City to only 188 yards – good for the third lowest total in Week 1.
About 60% of wagers on the spread had come in on Baltimore through Friday night, forcing books to adjust the line. San Diego was giving four points when the spread was released, but it has been bet down to -3.5 and -3 across the board, with the possibility it could go even lower before kickoff.