The Carolina Panthers are 1-0 this preseason against AFC East teams and host another on Friday night when the Miami Dolphins make the flight to Charlotte. The Panthers are slight NFL betting favorites and we should see star QB Cam Newton play at least a few series.
Offensive tackle Daryl Williams (knee) is expected to open the season on injured reserve. Williams dislocated his kneecap and tore his MCL early in training camp. He was never going to be ready for Week 1, but the Panthers are hoping he can return for the second half of the year. Taylor Moton has replaced Williams opposite Matt Kalil. With left guard Amini Silatolu also sidelined, Carolina’s offensive line is looking like a problem area.
Cornerback Ross Cockrell went down with a fractured left tibia and fibula during practice late last month. The Panthers will wait until after Cockrell undergoes surgery before establishing a timetable for his return. A rookie has been either a starter or key contributor for the Panthers every year under coach Ron Rivera, from Newton in 2011 to Christian McCaffrey in 2017. One player to keep an eye on in 2018 is second-round pick Donte Jackson, a second-round cornerback from LSU.
Dolphins at Panthers 2018 NFL Preseason Week 2 Lines
- When: Friday, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
- TV: NFL Network Replay
- Radio: Siriusxm
- 2018 NFL Preseason Week 2 Lines: Carolina Panthers -4 (Total 37.5)
Why Bet on Miami?
The Dolphins were 26-24 home losers to Tampa Bay in their preseason opener. QB Ryan Tannehill, seeing his first action since December 2016, led a 40-yard drive that ended with a missed field goal in his only series. He was off-target on his final two throws and finished 4 for 6 for 32 yards. Miami’s David Fales, battling Brock Osweiler for the backup quarterback job, led the second-string offense to a field goal against the Buccaneers’ first-team defense. Fales also directed a 75-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, and he finished 8 of 11 for 115 yards. Osweiler went 10 for 21 for 83 yards. Rookie Kalen Ballage rushed 10 times for 37 yards while losing a fumble in the Dolphins’ preseason opener. Ballage added three catches for 23 yards. The No. 131 overall pick showed some impressive athleticism, but made a rookie mistake, attempting a hurdle and kneeing the ball out of his own grip for a fumble. Ballage is currently No. 3 on the depth chart. Tannehill kicked Ballage out of the huddle for missing a block during Sunday’s practice. Tannehill was furious with the rookie, sending him off the field and later ripping him on the sideline. Coach Adam Gase had Tannehill’s back, telling reporters after practice that the QB was right to boot Ballage from the huddle. Dolphins rookie LB Jerome Baker replaced Stephone Anthony on the first team Sunday. Anthony played nine snaps in Thursday’s preseason opener but showed poor tackling and physicality. Baker opened camp Sunday playing strongside next to weakside LB Kiko Alonso and MLB Raekwon McMillan. Baker didn’t start in the preseason opener against the Buccaneers but came in very early to replace Alonso and was one of the bright spots for the Dolphins defense. Every rookie on the roster, including all eight draft picks, saw action in the loss against the Bucs and first-round and second-round picks Minkah Fitzpatrick and Mike Gesicki both started. Starting receivers Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker sat out Monday’s practice with minor injuries, and that gave players like Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant and Rashawn Scott plenty of reps in the passing game. Even if Stills and Parker play Friday night in Carolina, it should be more only a couple of series.Why Bet on Carolina?
The Panthers won in Buffalo 28-23 last week. Cam Newton finished 6 of 9 for 84 yards in two series. He was nearly intercepted on Carolina’s second possession when he overthrew tight end Greg Olsen over the middle. Jordan Poyer got a hand on the ball but was unable to bring it into his body. Coordinator Norv Turner’s goal of getting Newton, who has a career completion percentage of 58.5, into the 65 to 70 percent range seems realistic after camp. The Panthers overcame a 17-7 first-half deficit and went ahead for good on C.J. Anderson’s 4-yard run 2:19 into the fourth quarter. Mose Frazier caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from backup Garrett Gilbert, and Elijah Hood sealed the win with a 21-yard TD reception from Taylor Heinicke with 5:05 left. D.J. Moore caught 4-of-6 targets for 75 yards in the Panthers’ preseason opener. His long catch went for 32 yards on an underthrown deep ball down the sideline where Moore had to stop and come back to it, but his most impressive play was a shallow cross on 3rd-and-9 where Moore broke several tackles to set up C.J. Anderson’s fourth-quarter, four-yard TD run. Moore was targeted once by Newton but played mostly with the second- and third-teamers.
Offensive tackle Daryl Williams (knee) is expected to open the season on injured reserve. Williams dislocated his kneecap and tore his MCL early in training camp. He was never going to be ready for Week 1, but the Panthers are hoping he can return for the second half of the year. Taylor Moton has replaced Williams opposite Matt Kalil. With left guard Amini Silatolu also sidelined, Carolina’s offensive line is looking like a problem area.
Cornerback Ross Cockrell went down with a fractured left tibia and fibula during practice late last month. The Panthers will wait until after Cockrell undergoes surgery before establishing a timetable for his return. A rookie has been either a starter or key contributor for the Panthers every year under coach Ron Rivera, from Newton in 2011 to Christian McCaffrey in 2017. One player to keep an eye on in 2018 is second-round pick Donte Jackson, a second-round cornerback from LSU.
Latest NFL Betting Trends
- Dolphins are 2-7-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall
- Dolphins are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games
- Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games
