Panthers vs. Patriots Preseason Week 2 NFL Picks: Mac Jones Back Under Center?
As the starters get a little bit more playing time, will the New England Patriots get their first preseason win at the expense of the Carolina Panthers? Find out who we like in our Panthers-Patriots picks.
The preseason is always a little tricky to predict. In Week 2, teams normally play their starters for the full first half. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones didn’t play at all last week. After reports from training camp that he was struggling with the offense, will his preseason debut show the reports are true?
Here are our Panthers-Patriots NFL picks for preseason Week 2 (odds via Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Panthers vs. Patriots Game Info
Date/Time: Friday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. ET
TV: NFL Network
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
Weather: 74 degrees, 24% chance of precipitation, 5-mph winds
Panthers vs. Patriots Odds Analysis
This game opened with the Panthers as a one-and-a-half-point favorite. Most books have now made them two-point favorites, however, you can still find the one-and-a-half line at Caesars.
Most books also have the Panthers favored at -125. If you’re on the Patriots, the best value can be found at FanDuel, where the Patriots are +110 on the moneyline.
Most of the totals jumped up after the majority of last week's games hit the Over. This one started at 38.5 total but has moved to 40.5 on most books. If you like the Over, you can find it at 40 at Caesars.
Panthers vs. Patriots Picks
Panthers vs. Patriots ATS Pick
Panthers +1.5 (-110)
Neither Sam Darnold nor Baker Mayfield did enough in Week 1 to show they deserve the Panthers' starting job. They threw for a combined 61 yards. However, I expect both to get decent playing time in Week 2. Both quarterbacks have been starters in the NFL before and are going to give their all to show they deserve the starting spot.
Meanwhile, Jones should make his 2022 preseason debut. While Bill Belichick normally doesn’t care much about the preseason, they're installing new offensive plays from Matt Patricia. Reports have stated Jones hasn’t picked up Patricia’s play calling very quickly. He’ll need to continue to look sharp, as Bailey Zappe looked good last week, throwing for 205 yards and a touchdown.
Panthers vs. Patriots O/U Pick
Under 40.5 (-110)
Last week, all but three games went Over the points total. I think as starters get more time, especially on defense, this trend will regress and balance out a little bit more. The Patriots have had a strong defense the past handful of years and this year shouldn’t be any different. Last year, they allowed 17.8 points per game. I like the Under in this game.
Panthers vs. Patriots Prop Pick
Patriots +0.5 1st Quarter (+110 via FanDuel)
Preseason prop bets are pretty difficult to find. In fact, even if books do have them, they often aren’t available until right before the game. Shop around but I’m seeing a first-quarter spread of New England as a pick at +110 on FanDuel.
Where to Bet on Panthers vs. Patriots Picks
Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:
SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.
Panthers-Patriots picks made 8/17/2022 at 11:35 a.m. ET
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