Panthers vs. Bills Week 15 Picks: Buffalo To Cruise To Victory

Both the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills have been struggling recently after hot starts and will be looking to get right with a win on Sunday. We have all the betting angles covered with our Panthers and Bills picks.

The Panthers have many issues that go beyond their win-loss record. Firing offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Sunday, Dec. 5, to use as a scapegoat predictably didn't work out, as they lost 29-21 to the Atlanta Falcons last week. Their quarterback situation is a mess, and they look nothing like the team that started 3-0 on the season. They're rightfully the underdogs for this matchup.

For Buffalo, single-possession losses against the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, plus a 26-point blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts within its last four games have all but destroyed the hope of the top seed in the AFC or even the AFC East title. The loss against the Patriots comes with the caveat of extreme weather conditions, however.

Here are my NFL picks and predictions for the Week 15 matchup between the Panthers and Bills (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Panthers vs. Bills Week 15 Game Info

Date/Time: Sunday, Dec. 19, 1 p.m. ETTV: FOXLocation: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NYWeather: 32 degrees with a few flurries, winds of 17 mph

Panthers vs. Bills Odds Analysis

The line opened with Buffalo as a 12-point favorite, and that has since dropped to 10.5 points at most sportsbooks with DraftKings posting a line of 11 points. This may be a good time to get in on the Bills, as I can see the line moving back up as more of the public money comes back on the hosts.

The Over/Under opened at 44.5 and has stayed there throughout the week. DraftKings has it shaded slightly to the Over with -115 odds.

Panthers vs. Bills Picks

Bills -10.5 (-110 via FanDuel) ???Under 44.5 (-105 via DraftKings) ??

SEE ALSO: NFL Week 15 Betting Odds, Lines, and Picks

Panthers vs. Bills Predictions

Bills -10.5 (-110)

I'm surprised that the line moved in favor of the Panthers, and I think the public is severely underrating how poor Carolina has been this season. The Panthers are 2-8 across their last 10 games, and a large part of that is because they struggle to move the ball.

They are 30th in yards per play, have thrown just 11 passing touchdowns on the season while ranking 28th in net yards per passing attempt. This might not be a problem if running back Christian McCaffrey was available to play, but they are now relying on rookie Chuba Hubbard in the backfield. He had just 33 rushing yards against the Falcons last week and is averaging just 3.5 yards per attempt for the season.

There's a very good chance the Panthers fall behind early, which will force them to throw the ball more. Projected starter Cam Newton is a shadow of his former self, showing why he was unsigned for most of the 2021 season. Backup P.J. Walker is hardly an upgrade, so the Panthers' offense will be highly limited.

The game plan against the Bills is to run the ball down their throats. That's what the Colts, Patriots, and Bucs did; however, the Panthers don't have the personnel to pull that off.

Under 44.5 (-105)

As mentioned above, the Panthers are severely limited offensively. They average just 19.8 points per game, and they are going up against a Buffalo defense that ranks first in yards per play against and first in first downs against per game. Carolina ranks second and fourth, respectively, in those statistical categories. Although those stats are buoyed by an early schedule against the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Houston Texans.

Bills receivers Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders did not participate in practice on Wednesday. While Beasley received a veteran rest day, Sanders (knee) could be at risk of missing Sunday's game. QB Josh Allen was limited in practice but is expected to play after suffering a foot injury in overtime against Tampa Bay.

It's something to monitor through the week. If backup Mitch Trubisky were to start, I like the Under even more.

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Panthers-Bills picks made 12/16/2021 at 5 p.m. ET