Carolina Panthers vs Atlanta Falcons Prediction, 1/5/2025 NFL Picks, Best Bets & Odds Week 18

Game: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Date: Sunday, January 5, 2025

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA

TV: CBS

Odds-Point Spread: Falcons (-7.5)

Total-Over-Under: 47.5

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the site where the Atlanta Falcons (8-8) will attempt to defeat the Carolina Panthers (4-12) on Sunday. Carolina opens this matchup as 7.5-point dogs. The over-under is 47.5.

The Carolina Panthers head into this game 4-12 for this season. In their last contest, the Panthers faced off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and took home the win by a score of 36-30. Bryce Young finished 15-28 with 203 yards through the air and 2 touchdowns. He had a quarterback rating of 100.7 and finished the contest with no picks. Xavier Legette had an average of 5.6 yards per reception by notching 28 yards on 5 receptions. Raheem Blackshear led the offense in rushing for the Panthers with 8 attempts for 20 yds (2.5 yards per carry). Overall, they ran 41 plays for 204 yards. The Carolina Panthers ran the ball a total of 13 different times and compiled 39 yds, which is an average of 3.0 yards per tote. When it came to the battle of the line of scrimmage, the Panthers conceded 206 yds on 29 attempts, which averages out to 7.1 yards per run allowed. Carolina gave up 20 pass completions on 32 tries for a total of 176 yds, and a completion rate of 62.5%.

Regarding scoring, the Carolina Panthers have an average of 18.6 PPG. As a team they are averaging 107.7 yards via the ground game which is 20th in the league. The Panthers currently have 4,641 total yards for the season. Carolina has tallied 152 first downs, and they have committed 116 penalties for 917 yds. They have given the ball to the opposition 22 times (15 picks and 7 fumbles). When it comes to getting in the endzone, Carolina has totaled 19 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns.

When talking about yards through the air, the Panthers have given up 3,510 yards which has them ranked 16th in football. They have allowed 219.4 yards per contest via the pass as well as giving up a completion percentage of 68.9%. They have granted 33 touchdowns by air and 21 touchdowns pounding the rock. During this campaign, they have surrendered 396.3 yards per game which has them sitting 32nd in football. The opposition is running for an average of 5.1 yards per tote and 176.9 yards on the ground per game over the course of this year. The Panthers are ranked 32nd in the NFL in relation to team defense, conceding 31.0 PPG. Over the course of this year, they have given up 2,830 yards via the running game in 16 outings.

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The Falcons step onto the field holding a record of 8-8 for this season. When they last stepped on the football field, the Falcons got the victory with a final of 34-7 when they played the Washington Commanders. Michael Penix (1 touchdown) finished the contest with 223 yards on 19-35 passing while his quarterback rating was 71.5. He tossed 1 interception and his average yds per pass attempt was 6.4 yards. Bijan Robinson carried the ball 17 times for 90 yds, walking away from the contest with 5.3 yds per attempt for Atlanta. Drake London was a featured target for the Falcons, bringing in 7 throws for 106 yds (15.1 yds per reception). Atlanta rushed the ball for 5.5 yards per carry, finishing with 126 yds on 23 carries. The Falcons ended up finishing with 337 yds while running 58 plays (5.8 yards per play). The Falcons passing defense conceded a completion rate of 56.4%, surrendering 189 yards on 22 for 39 passing. Atlanta surrendered 13 attempts on the ground for 45 yards (3.5 yds per rush).

When discussing their scoring prowess, the Falcons are sitting 17th out of all teams in the NFL by scoring 21.9 points per game. Over the course of the season thus far, the Falcons have earned 3,758 yards through the air as well as an average of 234.9 passing yards per game, which has them ranked 8th in football. They are averaging 124.5 yards per game on the ground and have rushed for 1,992 yards overall. The Atlanta Falcons average 359.4 yards-contest which ranks them 10th out of all teams in the NFL. The Atlanta offense has 773 yards of penalties on 92 infractions, which is good for 27th in football in terms of making mistakes.

The Falcons are relinquishing 23.7 PPG, which has them sitting 21st of all teams in the NFL. They have allowed the opposition 31 touchdowns through the air in addition to 221.7 yards-game, ranking them 19th in the NFL. Atlanta has yielded a total of 1,896 yards on the ground (118.5 yards-game) in addition to 8 touchdowns by ground for the season. The Falcons defense has been on the field for 1,002 plays, which is good for 21st in the NFL. They have totaled 18 takeaways (6 fumbles and 12 picks) on the season.

Who will win tonight's Panthers-Falcons NFL game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Falcons -7.5

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