The Carolina Panthers, winners of the NFC Championship, and the Denver Broncos, winners of the AFC Championship, will clash in Super Bowl 50 in a winner-takes-all NFL betting showdown. Join us inside as we discuss why the Panthers (-6) should be your Super Bowl 50 NFL Odds pick.
Panthers vs Broncos Super Bowl 50 Game Information and NFL Odds
When: Sunday, February 7, 2015
Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET
Where: Santa Clara, CA
Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
Spread: Panthers -6
Moneyline: Carolina -245 vs Denver +205
Game Total: 45.5
Watch: CBS
Stream: CBS Sports
Listen: Carolina vs Denver
Carolina Owns a Terrific Odds Shattering Offense
No matter how you slice it, the fact remains that the Panthers are deservedly the best offensive team in the country this year. This is a team that is entering the Super Bowl averaging 32.2 PPG in its 18 games, a notable increase from the league-best 31.3 PPG they had at the end of the regular season. Put into better perspective, if you take away the dull offensive effort in Atlanta, the Panthers have scored between 31 and 49 points in the eight other contests they’ve played in since Nov. 22nd.
Meanwhile, QB Cam Newton is sure MVP for the year with good reasons, most notable of them being the way he’s led the Panthers to a nearly perfect season so far (17-1 SU) and accounted for over 75 percent of his team’s offensive production this year.
Carolina’s Defense is Just as Good for NFL Wagering Purposes
Irrefutably, no team other than Denver can rightfully stake the claim of owning the best defense in the league. Nonetheless, the Panthers (who actually finished the regular season ranked second behind the Broncos in defensive efficiency) weren’t far off in matching up to Denver.
Just to mention a few things in their defensive portfolio, the Panthers finished the regular season ranked sixth in total defense (322.9 YPG), fourth in points allowed (19.3), fourth in run defense (88.4), sixth in sacks (44) and eighth in yards per point. Additionally, the Panthers forced most turnovers in the NFL this year, a reputation they’ve upheld even in the postseason. So whatever you can say in favor of the Broncos D, the Panthers can just as well make a case for doing similar thing on the opposite side of the ball.
Denver‘s Lack of Balance Could Cost them a Super Bowl 50 Odds Win
Two years ago, the Broncos entered the Super Bowl flying high, hoping to cap their season with a Lombardi Trophy. Come the end of that game, the Broncos had their tails between their legs, having suffered a blowout loss to the Seattle. Denver’s big problem in that game was the lack of balance, more so on the defensive side of the ball. This year, it’s more-or-less the same story, but with a different script.
Peyton Manning, the cog in Denver’s offense from two years ago, is struggling mightily in the offense, and it is Denver’s improved defense that has now become the crowning jewel of the team. If this defense fails to stop the Newton-led attack, as is looking likely, then we could end up with another lop-sided win from the multi-dimensional Panthers that can emerge victorious in an assortment of ways.
Super Bowl 50 Betting Conclusion
The truth of the matter here is that Denver will be hard-done in its efforts to stop or even keep up with Carolina because of two reasons. First, unlike the Patriots and Steelers whose running ability was limited due to injuries, the Panthers have their running game alive and kicking, streaking on 31 straight 100-yard games entering the Super Bowl. This will offer Carolina added impetus and options to confuse Denver’s defense.
Second, Carolina’s defense is not only good at tallying takeaways, but it also knows how to turn them into scores (as has been done by Luke Kuechly in the two postseason games against Seattle and Arizona). Such support could prove very pivotal in winning the offensive battle. As good defenses keep teams in the game, but it is the final scores that eventually matter most. If you combine all that, the odds look to tilt greatly in Carolina’s favor, no wonder we believe that Ron Rivera’s team is due for a big winning performance over Denver in this Super Bowl 50 clash.
