Will the Panthers win 7 games? Will Baker Mayfield throw 23 TDs? Maybe. Wanna bet?
There are a lot of eyes on the 2022 Panthers, and not just because the team has a new quarterback.
Because of the added attention Baker Mayfield has brought with him, though, more people are paying attention to the rest of the team’s roster. That attention includes added interest from sports books in Las Vegas and beyond. Some popular prop bets from the books range from wagering on the first NFL coach to be fired this season (Matt Rhule is the favorite in most books) to Mayfield’s candidacy for Comeback Player of the Year.
A line that best captures what Vegas — and by default the public — think of the Panthers is the team’s estimated win total. Carolina’s over-under wins is 6.5. Charlotte Observer columnist Scott Fowler made his prediction. I’d take the over, since a push is not an option.
Did you wake up feeling dangerous? The Panthers are +900 to win the NFC South. That means if you bet $100 and Carolina finishes with a better record than Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Atlanta, then you net $900, plus your initial $100 back.
Anyone placing (and winning) that bet better be nice to Rhule on Twitter for at least a day or two.
Do you want to fade those short first-coach-fired odds? Rhule is 33-to-1 to win Coach of the Year. A $100 bet earns $3300.
Those are just a few of the dozens of prop bets available specifically on the Panthers. Below is a breakdown of a handful more. Here’s where Fowler and I sit on some of the popular lines:
Baker Mayfield passing touchdowns: 22.5
Williams: Mayfield broke the rookie passing touchdown record in 2018 by throwing 27 touchdown passes in 14 games. He regressed in 2019 under one-and-done head coach Freddie Kitchens, tossing 26 scores and only eight interceptions.
Last season, he threw 17 touchdowns while playing 12 games with a torn left labrum.
The number that matters most is Mayfield’s interception total. Keeping it under 10 would help Carolina stay in the playoff picture. As for his touchdown total, I’d take the over.
Fowler: The only way Mayfield doesn’t get to at least 23 touchdowns is if he gets hurt. As long as he plays in at least 15 games, this one shouldn’t be a problem. I’d take the over.
Christian McCaffrey combined rushing and receiving yards: 1,450.5
Williams: Any McCaffrey bet is basically a wager on how many games he’ll play. All offseason, I’ve told fantasy football participants to select McCaffrey No. 1 overall. He’ll go over 1,450 yards in about 12 games.
Fowler: This one I’d worry about. McCaffrey will often end up with 150 combined rushing and receiving yards in games that he plays, but how many games will he really play? He’ll crush this mark if he plays 17 games, or even 14, but I’d still take the under based on recent history.
Brian Burns total sacks: 9
Williams: I’ll take the over. Burns has had nine sacks each of the past two seasons. He’s confident he’ll reach double-digit sacks in Year 4. If he doesn’t, the Panthers’ defense will struggle all season.
Fowler: Burns looks stronger and just as fast to me. Even if the over-under was 10.5 on this one, I’d take the over.
DJ Moore receiving touchdowns: 5.5
Williams: The under is the safe bet. Moore has had four touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Moore makes plays between the 20s, but I’m not sure he will be the team’s go-to red-zone target. Moore scoring six or seven touchdowns would not surprise me either. If he does then collectively the offense is firing.
Fowler: I’ll go ahead and take the over here, even though Moore’s touchdown production has been inconsistent throughout his NFL career. He’s got a better quarterback now, though, and I bet he’ll spring one of these TDs on a reverse at some point. I think he edges past this mark.
Panthers Super Bowl odds: 130-to-1
Williams: Stay away unless you have money to burn.
Fowler: If you want to give away money this badly, find a worthy charity instead.
This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 5:55 AM.
