Who will win Carolina Panthers-Atlanta Falcons game? Predictions, odds
Who will win the Carolina Panthers-Atlanta Falcons Week 1 matchup?
That might not be the most consequential question that’s floating in the Panthers’ orbit at the moment — what with a Brian Burns contract to nail down and a wide receiver room to get healthy and a rookie quarterback to develop — but it’s certainly one that’s on fans’ minds.
Per BetMGM NFL odds, the Falcons are 3.5-point favorites with an over/under 39.5.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Sunday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Here’s a snapshot of what people around the country — as well as in Carolina’s backyard — are predicting for this NFC South matchup.
Observer predictions for Panthers-Falcons game
Mike Kaye: Falcons win, 20-17. The Panthers and Falcons seem to always play each other tough. With the Falcons hosting the opener, I’ll give them the slight edge, as I would give it to the Panthers if this game was hosted at Bank of America Stadium. These are two pretty evenly matched squads, and while I think Bryce Young can outperform Desmond Ridder, the concerns in the trenches — on both sides of the ball for Carolina — give me pause. I think the Panthers will lead this game and look sharp throughout the bulk of the matchup, but they’ll ultimately falter in the end.
Alex Zietlow: Panthers win, 17-14. I wrote earlier this week that it wouldn’t be sensational to expect the Panthers to go 3-3 through their first six contests — and I can’t walk back those comments ... yet. The Falcons hope to hold possession a ton running the ball and are expected to be great against the run, so a good Bryce Young performance will be necessary for my prediction to be proven right. (So I guess I’m predicting a nice Young NFL debut, too.)
Scott Fowler: Falcons win, 24-16. Carolina’s history in Atlanta is mostly a tearjerker. The Panthers lost their first-ever game there. Kerry Collins got blown out there, went into Dom Capers’ office the next day and never played for Carolina again. The 2015 Panthers lost their undefeated season there. I’ve watched it happen too many times.
Langston Wertz Jr.: Well, I said it on our podcast, Processing Blue, so I’m not going to run from it now. Here’s my pick: Bryce Young throws his first game-winning touchdown pass, hitting Adam Thielen in the final minute of a 23-17 Panthers win against Atlanta. I agree with Mike that these are relatively evenly-matched teams, but if Brian Burns plays and Young plays like I think he will, then the Panthers will start out on the good foot.
Experts around the country weigh in on NFC South game
Other pundits and media personalities and media companies predicted Sunday’s result. Here’s what they said.
NFL.com: Five editors at NFL.com unanimously chose the Falcons to take the win in low-scoring affairs.
ESPN.com: Seth Walder and Eric Moody of ESPN.com both chose the Falcons to emerge victorious Sunday.
CBS Sports: Pete Prisco has the Falcons beating the Panthers, 27-21.
The Ringer: Here’s one of the few writeups that spoke highly (sorta) of the Panthers’ chances Sunday. Sheil Kapadia says that the Panthers will “keep it close” and prevail.
