TOM STRYKER’S FREE FOOTBALL SELECTION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST
#289 NEW ORLEANS (-3) over Carolina at 7:15 PM EST
Off that one-point home win over the Titans in their season opener, the Saints will travel to Charlotte and pound the Panthers on Monday night. Carolina checks into this contest off a 14-point road loss at Atlanta in its lid-lifter and head coach Frank Reich and his squad will have problems here once again.
It certainly won’t take much for New Orleans to get up for this division battle. Last year, the Saints faced the Panthers twice and lost both games (SU and ATS) by finals of 22-14 (away) and 10-7 (home). Thankfully, head coach Dennis Allen and his players have been worth the financial risk as a division guest inking a proud 70-44-2 ATS tally including an elite 37-14-1 ATS in this run provided they are competing with revenge. In this role tackling a foe that holds a team won/loss percentage of .500 or less, New Orleans zips to a profitable 20-3-1 ATS mark including a phenomenal 11-0-1 ATS if it is priced as a favorite or an underdog of +3.5 or less.
Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young had a tough time in last week’s road loss to the Falcons. The former Heisman Trophy winner failed to complete a pass for more than 14 yards and connected on just 20-of-38 attempts for 146 yards and two interceptions. Matched up against a Saints stop unit that did not allow a touchdown last week and stopped the Titans on 10 of 12 third downs, Young is going to have major issues here. To make matters worse, Carolina is on a woeful 9-23 SU and 11-21 ATS run in its last 32 battles including a pathetic 5-18 SU and 6-17 ATS provided the Panthers are not fighting with revenge. Finally, in home openers, Carolina holds a stiff 11-17 SU and 10-16-2 ATS record including just 2-6 SU and ATS if it is fighting a division foe.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr torched the Titans defense for 305 yards and one touchdown. The visitors own the edge at the QB spot as well as the defensive side of the ball, and that will be enough to cover this number. Take New Orleans. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
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