Panthers

Panthers-Falcons Spread

Avid football fans have fueled the rivalry between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons for decades.

Both squads have appeared in the Super Bowl, but neither has won the NFL championship yet. As the 2021 regular season starts, can either of these two NFC South teams snatch the Super Bowl title? 

This comprehensive guide aims to help you better understand the betting odds for the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. We trace their rivalry, including their stats from the 2020 NFL season and the betting trends that year.

Panthers vs. Falcons: All-Time Series

The Panthers-Falcons Rivalry

The rivalry between the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons began when Carolina joined as an expansion team. Both football teams competed in the NFC West from 1995 to 2001 and in the NFC South since 2002. 

The Panthers and the Falcons have won a combined 11 division championships since 1995. Both teams have also made two Super Bowl appearances, but neither won a Super Bowl title. The two squads have also not met in the playoffs.

The Panthers-Falcons rivalry is also known as the “I-85 Rivalry” due to Charlotte and Atlanta being only four hours apart on Interstate 85.

1995-1999

The Panthers’ first regular-season game was a tightly contested 23-20 OT loss to Atlanta on September 3, 1995. 

The matchup was infamous because Carolina fans, formerly Falcons’ supporters, switched allegiance when the Panthers started to play.

The physical nature of the matchup triggered mixed emotions from avid fans.  The intense play set the tone for the newly created rivalry between Carolina and Atlanta. 

The 2000s

In 2002, the Falcons and Panthers moved to the NFC South division with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Coming off their 1998 Super Bowl appearance, Atlanta began dominating Carolina during the early 2000s. The Falcons won nine of ten meetings with the Panthers during that decade, while Carolina’s only win against Atlanta was in 2003. 

Overall, Atlanta won 13 of 20 games against the Panthers during the 2000s. 

The 2010s

Matt Ryan had long taken over the quarterback position for the Atlanta Falcons after Michael Vick’s involvement in a dog-fighting scandal in 2007. 

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers drafted QB Cam Newton in 2011 after 2010 NFL draft pick Jimmy Clausen didn’t live up to the team’s standard. 

The Panthers and the Falcons met in a must-win matchup for the NFC South division title in 2014. Despite Atlanta’s early domination in the season, Carolina won the game, 34-3. 

The Panthers’ victory over the Falcons placed them in NFL history as the second team to clinch a division championship with a losing record at 7-8-1.

In the 2015 NFL Week 16, Carolina met Atlanta with a 14-0 record. Many fans anticipated that the Panthers could easily win the game, given their perfect standing. However, the Falcons made an upset win with a final score of 20-13. 

The Atlanta Falcons and the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 were the only teams that defeated Carolina in the 2015 NFL season.

Falcons vs. Panthers: Stats Last Season

2020 NFL Week 8

The Panthers hosted the Falcons for their 2020 NFL Week 8 matchup held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

Matt Ryan of the Falcons threw 281 yards and ran for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Younghoe Koo made four field goals that led to Atlanta’s win against the Carolina Panthers, 25-17 on Thursday Night Football. 

The Panthers were driving late. However, the Falcons stopped their rally when Atlanta’s Blidi Wreh-Wilson intercepted Carolina’s QB, Teddy Bridgewater. The interception took place near Atlanta’s ten-yard line with 1:04 left on the clock. 

The Falcons’ running back, Todd Gurley, made 46 rushing yards and a TD, while wide receiver Julio Jones added 137 YDS receiving against the Panthers. 

Atlanta avenged their 26-16 loss to the Panthers during their last Week 5 matchup, in which Carolina’s Mike Davis made 149 rushing yards. 

NFL Week 8 Injuries 

Atlanta’s wide receiver Calvin Ridley left the matchup early in the second quarter because of an ankle injury after his reception in the red zone. 

On the other hand, Carolina’s cornerback Donte Jackson had a toe injury that forced him to leave the game early. 

Falcons vs. Panthers: Betting Trends

2020 NFL Week 8 Betting Odds and Trends

  • The Carolina Panthers were 1.5 home favorites.
  • The over/under for the total point was 52. 
  • Falcons-Panthers moneyline: Atlanta +105, Carolina -125 
  • ATL: Wide receiver Julio Jones had 16 receptions for 234 YDS and two TDs. 
  • CAR: Wide receivers Robby Anderson and DJ Moore had a touchdown reception of at least 74 YDS for the 2020 NFL season.

Falcons vs. Panthers: Game Notes

  • The NFC South rivals faced off in Atlanta in Week 5. The Panthers took a 23-16 victory over the Falcons. Atlanta’s loss resulted in the firing of head coach Dan Quinn. Raheem Morris replaced him. 
  • Atlanta lost 23-22 at home against the Lions in October 2020 when Todd Gurley of the Falcons scored a TD with too much time left on the clock. Detroit’s QB Matthew Stafford marched his team down the field and hit T.J. Hockenson for a TD. The touchdown set up Matt Prater’s game-winning points for the Lions.
  • Carolina lost 27-24 on the road against the New Orleans Saints. The teams tied at 24-24, entering the fourth quarter.
  • Atlanta’s QB Matt Ryan led the league with 2,181 passing yards through seven games. He had 12 TD passes and only three interceptions.

Betting Strategies

Moneyline

Moneyline or straight-up bets are direct stakes on the team you think will win the matchup. The favorite team is represented by a minus (-) sign, while the underdog is represented by a plus (+) sign. 

A moneyline tells you the amount you can cash out on a $100 bet. Your stake, either win or lose, depends on the fate of the team you supported. 

For example, the odds of +200 mean that you will make $200 if you risk $100 and your prediction is correct. A -230 moneyline means you have to bet $230 to win $100 if the football team you supported wins. 

If the game is canceled, the stake will be considered a “push.” In this case, your bet amount will be credited back to your account. 

Totals (Over/Under)

You only need to predict whether the total score will be “over” or “under” the betting line with this type of bet. 

Point Spread

A point spread is not as straightforward as the totals and moneyline. However, it’s not that complicated either. The NFL point spread levels the playing field by generating an estimated margin of victory. 

Prop Bets

First-time bettors can try proposition bets based on occurrences or non-occurrences during a game. They are considered novelty stakes since they also deal with a team’s milestone or an individual player’s performance. 

If you’re rooting for the Panthers, you may bet on running back Christian Mccaffrey if you like his play.

Where to Watch

The NFL offers podcast episodes and live streaming of different football matchups. Most NFL networks, such as NBC, FOX, and ESPN, also cover the games. 

For updates on other NFL football teams, such as the ones listed below, visit the official NFL page. 

  1. Green Bay Packers
  2. Dallas Cowboys
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Philadelphia Eagles 
  5. Detroit Lions 
  6. Kansas City Chiefs
  7. Seattle Seahawks
  8. Minnesota Vikings

Note:

YDS - Passing yards

CAR - Carries