NFL Picks: Week 5 Lions vs. Panthers

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This NFL Week 5 brings us a Feline Showdown, this time the Carolina Panthers are set to face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. Here is a preview of this good match along with pick and prediction:

BUSR NFL Lines

Spread:  Carolina Panthers +9 (-110), Detroit Lions -9 (-110)

 Moneyline:  Carolina Panthers +330, Detroit Lions -450

 Total:   Carolina Panthers 0 43.5 (-110), Detroit Lions U 43.5 (-110)

The Lions Upper Hand

The Lions are coming off an impressive victory against the Green Bay Packers, a well-established team in the league. Jared Goff, the Lions’ quarterback, had a solid outing, throwing for 210 yards on 19-of-28 completions, boasting a 67.9% completion rate. Goff threw one touchdown and one interception in that game. However, the real standout performance came from David Montgomery, who showcased his power and versatility by amassing 121 rushing yards on 32 carries. He also found the end zone three times in short-yardage situations and contributed in the passing game with two receptions for 20 yards. Josh Reynolds led the receiving corps with three catches for 69 yards. The Lions are on the rise in the NFL season and will look to maintain their momentum against the Panthers.

A Slow Cat

On the other hand, the Panthers are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, where Bryce Young, their quarterback, had a solid performance, throwing for 204 yards. Young completed 78.1% of his passes, going 25-for-32, although he didn’t manage to throw any touchdowns and also avoided interceptions. In that game, Chuba Hubbard had a 14-carry game, gaining 41 yards, and averaging 2.9 yards per carry. He also added two receptions for 12 yards. Adam Thielen was the primary target in the passing game, racking up 76 receiving yards on seven catches out of eight targets.

Let’s take a closer look at the teams’ betting statistics and some key player statistics:

The Panthers have not covered the spread yet this year and this is a significant statistic that suggests the Panthers have struggled to meet the expectations set by oddsmakers and have generally underperformed compared to point spreads. While past performance is not always indicative of future outcomes, it raises questions about the Panthers’ ability to meet or exceed expectations set by bookmakers. Panthers games this NFL season have hit the over on one of four set-point totals (25%).

The fact that only 25% of the Panthers’ games have gone over the set point totals, implies that their games tend to be low-scoring affairs. This could be due to a strong defensive effort or a conservative offensive approach. We will see.

Jared Goff has been a reliable and efficient quarterback for the Lions. He boasts a high completion percentage (69.5%), which indicates his ability to make accurate throws. His six touchdown passes suggest that he’s capable of leading the offense effectively. However, the three interceptions are a concern and could be exploited by a strong defensive unit.

David Montgomery has been a force in the running game, averaging an impressive 87.3 yards per game and scoring five touchdowns on the ground. His ability to find the end zone is a valuable asset for the Lions. However, it’s worth noting that he hasn’t been heavily involved in the passing game, which could limit offensive versatility.

Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a reliable target in the passing game, averaging 82.8 yards per game and scoring two touchdowns. His consistency as a receiver provides a reliable option for Goff.

Aidan Hutchinson has been a defensive standout, recording 3.5 sacks and demonstrating an ability to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. His presence on the defense could be a key factor in pressuring the opposing quarterback, Bryce Young of the Panthers.

In general, we can say that the Detroit Lions have a more balanced offensive attack with a strong running game led by David Montgomery and an efficient passing game orchestrated by Jared Goff. The presence of Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive side adds an edge-rushing threat that could disrupt the Panthers’ offense.

In contrast, the Carolina Panthers have struggled to cover spreads this season, indicating that they may continue to underperform expectations. The low-scoring nature of their games suggests a more conservative approach to offense.