Carolina Panthers (1-5) vs. Washington Commanders (4-2)
It’s week 7 of the NFL season. Despite the few games left to reach the halfway mark, this particular week is interesting because the ‘young’ Carolina Panthers are taking on the ‘old’ Washington Commanders at the FedEx Field on 20th October 2024. This game, scheduled for a late afternoon time slot and will be televised on CBS, is at opposites in terms of the win-loss columns and the betting lines, too. For those looking for NFL picks and predictions, the most in-form players and teams, fans and bettors, the Panthers are out to play against the playoff qualifiers, the Commanders.
Regarding the Carolina Panthers’ offensive statistics, it is a mixture of hope and despair. One of the quarterbacks, Dalton, is quite effective at completing throws but he is not making throws that matter and therefore doesn’t move the ball too much, as evident in his 179.2 yards per game. On the other hand, Chuba Hubbard, who has cut 485 yards this season at an average of 5.6 yards per carry, looks like it is going to be a better game plan. Diontae Johnson has caught 29 passes for 340 yards as a wide receiver and that has added some positivity; however, the inability of most of the team to convert yards to points, still prevails.
On the other hand, the Washington Commanders have a different approach as far as the offense is concerned, their offense appears more balanced and deadly. At quarterback, Jayden Daniels’s impressive passer rating 107.1 is buoyed by his completing 75.3 percent of passes and adding 234 yards per game. The ground game of the Commanders can’t be said to be superior, but still, it is effective, and Austin Ekeler has an average of 6.1 yards per carry. In the last six games, Terry McLaurin has been an important member of the receiving group with 356 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns making him one of the go-to receivers during the red zone.
Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Commanders Game Info
When: | Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 4:05 PM ET |
Where: | Northwest Stadium |
TV: | CBS |
Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Andy Dalton QB vs. Jayden Daniels QB
Andy Dalton’s season speaks volumes about the general issues of the Panthers. Nonetheless, Dalton ordinally delivers a respectable completion percentage. However, his scoring and passing in yards per game seem to fall below what is required, and even before this interception tally of 4, he does nothing to a team that is already not doing well in the area of sustaining drives. It has been more about playing inside the framework this season as opposed to being in charge of the game by Dalton as Stevens’ evaluation reveals in his 87.6 passer rating.
Conversely, Jayden Daniels has been a pleasant surprise to Washington. With such a high completion percentage and great yards per game output that of a quarterback bearing very few if any of the mistakes and utilizing every chance who speaks of control. Daniels has made himself a very integral contributing factor to the victory for the Commanders, with a particular emphasis on the amazing capability of ripping the pocket and throwing on the run, which will really come in useful against a Panthers defense that has weaknesses when it comes to deep passing.
NFL Odds/Point Spread: Washington Commanders -360, Total Odds: 50.5
The betting odds are heavily tilted in favor of the Commanders, understandable given their 4-2 record and consistent performance. The spread at -7.5 suggests confidence in Washington’s ability to cover, while the over/under at 50.5 points will depend largely on whether Carolina can find some offensive consistency. Bettors should consider the Commanders’ ability to perform under pressure and their recent ATS success.
Carolina Panthers Betting Trends
The Panthers are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games, indicating a trend that bettors might find alarming. Their struggles on the road are well-documented, losing 11 of their last 12 away games. The over has hit in 5 of their last 6 games, suggesting their defense might be as much of a liability as their offense is ineffective.
Washington Commanders Betting Trends
Washington presents a more promising picture, going 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games. Despite their overall home record being less impressive, their ability to keep games close and often outscore their opponents in crucial moments makes them a safer bet, especially with their recent form.
Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Commanders 10/20/2024 Betting Picks
Based on an analysis of the capabilities and comparative power levels of the two teams, the win will be expected from the Commanders. They have offensive weapons and defensive strengths that allow them to dictate the game, and especially the game at their house. We have seen some moments of brilliance from Carolina, but there has not been enough shown for someone to put a bet on them.
For those looking for value, it would not be foolish to bet on the Commanders to cover the spread, as well as betting that the total will go over, given the propensity of both teams towards higher-scoring games. As usual, the best bookie software will provide a good number of prop bets, however, the smart money will be placed on Washington to take advantage of the holes in the Panthers’ defense and win easily.