Week 9 NFL Winning Predictions: Carolina At Los Angeles
Posted by Eric Williams on Friday,November 4, 2016 1:32, EDT in
Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers have certainly had their share of problems in getting off to a shocking 2-5 start through seven games. Still, the reigning NFC champions have a lot to play for as they look to record consecutive wins for the first time this season while giving their faint playoff hopes a big-time boost.
With the Rams looking to avoid a fourth straight loss, let’s find out if L.A. can either get the outright win at home or cover the NFL betting line as a surprisingly small home underdog.
A Closer Look At The Week 9 NFL Winning Predictions: Panthers At Rams
When: Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 4:05 PM ET
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports GO
Odds: Carolina -3
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams (3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS) have lost three consecutive games and only managed to put 10 points on the board in their humbling 17-10 loss to Eli Manning and the New York Giants two weeks ago. More importantly, L.A. ranks an awful 30th in scoring (17.1 ppg) and head coach Jeff Fisher apparently has no confidence whatsoever in No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff.
While young signal-callers like Carson Wentz, Dak Prescott, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston all made immediate impacts as rookies, Fisher has opted to sit Goff all season long while going with veteran Case Keenum despite the fact that Keenum is clearly not a starting caliber NFL quarterback as evidenced by his eight TD passes and 10 interceptions.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers (2-5 SU, 2-5 ATS) snapped a four-game losing streak by smacking Arizona around in its 30-20 Week 8 win on Sunday.
For the season, Cam Newton is completing a modest 57 percent of his passes for 1,508 yards with eight touchdowns but six costly interceptions. Tight end Greg Olsen and No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin have combined for 1,088 receiving yards and six touchdowns while running back Jonathan Stewart has rushed for a team-high 253 yards and four touchdowns. Despite their struggles this season, Carolina is ranked fourth in scoring by outing up an impressive 27.2 points per game.
While Carolina is allowing an uncharacteristic 28 points per game, the Panthers still have a bunch of elite defensive players like linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly. Cam Newton may not be a happy camper after suffering two cheap shots that weren’t flagged for penalties, but the 2015 league MVP will feel a lot better after he and his Panthers teammates pound the Rams into submission – likely by halftime in this affair.
The Panthers may be 1-4 ATS in their last five games, but they’re also 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in the month of November and 6-3 ATS in their last nine road games against the Rams. The Rams are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games in the month of November and 1-6 ATS in their last seven meetings against the Panthers. Carolina wins going away to cover the NFL betting line.
Pick: Panthers 31 Rams 14
