Browns vs. Panthers Prediction, Odds & Expert Picks: NFL Preseason Week 1
Two teams that picked in the top eight of this yearโs NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, will meet in their first preseason games tonight at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (7:00 p.m. ET, NFL Network).
Our Browns vs. Panthers prediction does not have much love for Cleveland rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders and makes the case for the six-point home favorites across our best sports betting sites. We break down this game and more in our NFL predictions and odds today.
Be sure to check out the rest of our NFL preseason Week 1 predictions throughout the weekend.
๐ Browns vs. Panthers predictions & expert picks
๐ Our NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best NFL odds across legal sportsbooks in your area to make your NFL picks!
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Against the spread pick: Panthers -6 (-108 via DraftKings) โญโญโญโญ
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My best bet: Over 32.5 (-105 via FanDuel) โญโญ
๐ฎ Browns vs. Panthers ATS prediction
๐พ Panthers -6 โญโญโญโญ
๐ Best odds: -108 via DraftKings ($10 to win $9.26)
๐ข Implied probability: 51.92%
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The Panthers have endured six consecutive seasons with 10-plus losses, the longest active streak in the NFL. But some are giving them an outside chance to win the NFC South based on having more talent and better depth than in past years, which is why I expect them to cover their preseason opener.
Cleveland expects to play Shedeur Sanders for most of the snaps given the injuries to the rest of the quarterbacks. But given that he was listed as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart, that does not inspire much confidence in his first NFL action.
Meanwhile, the more Carolina plays veteran backup Andy Dalton, the better its chances are of moving the ball and scoring points.
The best sports betting apps are clearly down on Sanders and the Browns, as this line has shot up from an opening number of -1.5, and rose another 1.5 points after making a stop at -4.5 midweek. I would play anything less than a touchdown, and am taking advantage of the only -6 at less than the standard -110 juice I can find at DraftKings.
๐ Check out our 2025 NFL preseason betting guide for the best betting strategies and full NFL preseason schedule.
๐ฐ Browns vs. Panthers best bet
โฌ๏ธ Over 32.5 โญโญ
๐ Best odds: -105 via FanDuel ($10 to win $9.52)
๐ข Implied probability: 51.22%
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While we are aligning with the steam movement on the point spread and backing the favorites at an inflated number, we are going against the line movement and backing the Over on a total that has dropped considerably throughout the week.
Last season, 12 of the NFLโs first 17 preseason games went under the projected total. Eleven of those finished with fewer than 35 combined points, and several others failed to reach the 20-point plateau. So while we are bucking a trend with this pick, I expect a higher-scoring game, just like the Hall of Fame Game that saw 41 combined points scored.
Carolinaโs wide receivers finished with 146 receiving yards per game last season, and only Adam Thielen finished with more than 500 yards on the year. It addressed that issue by drafting Tetairoa McMillan in the first round and Jimmy Horn Jr. in the sixth round. I expect Carolina will air it out early and often to evaluate where its passing game stands early on.
Hopefully, Sanders can get into a rhythm with extended playing time so that Cleveland contributes some of the scoring. Either way, this total that was at 34.5 points for most of the week has dropped too low for me to do anything but back the Over.
๐ Browns vs. Panthers odds
Live updated odds from our best live betting sites. Follow the latest NFL scores for line history and matchup info.
๐ชง Browns vs. Panthers opening odds:
- Browns: +1.5 (-115)
- Panthers: -1.5 (-105)
๐ Browns vs. Panthers injuries
๐ NFL betting odds pages
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