Despite their 7-8-1 record on the season, the Carolina Panthers opened as four-point home favorites against the Arizona Cardinals for their Wild Card Weekend matchup Saturday. That line has since climbed to as high as a touchdown at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The total is at 38 points.
Carolina and Arizona have played one previous playoff game against each other, when the Cards put together a 33-13 road win. They also met last year, with the Cardinals winning outright as three-point underdogs.
Arizona is 4-2 against the spread in its last six games overall and on the road against Carolina. The Cardinals are 5-3 ATS on the road this season, while the Panthers are 4-4 ATS at home.
The total has gone UNDER in five of Arizona?s last seven games, and in four of Carolina?s last seven games. It has gone UNDER in five of the last seven games between these two in Charlotte. The OddsShark Computer predicts an 18-17 Arizona win.
The most notable injury is that of Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton, who is recovering from a sprained knee. Stanton is listed as day to day, and if he does not play, Ryan Lindley likely will start.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys opened as touchdown favorites against the Detroit Lions in the other NFC Wild Card Weekend matchup, with the line now up to 7.5 points on the NFL betting lines at some sportsbooks. The total is set at 48 points.
These two last met in 2013, with Detroit winning 31-30 at home, hitting the OVER, with Dallas covering. They have met once in the playoffs, with the Lions thumping the Cowboys 38-6 in Detroit back in 1992.
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last five games, while Detroit is 2-5 ATS in its last seven games. The Cowboys are 6-3 ATS in their last nine games against the Lions. The total has gone OVER in the last five games between these two teams and four of the last five in Dallas. The computer predicts a 31-24 Cowboys victory. That would provide for a Lions cover and hit the OVER.
The most notable news is that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended for the game for violating the NFL?s policy on player safety after stepping on Aaron Rodgers. Suh is appealing the decision. Dallas, rising on the odds to win the Super Bowl lately, could be without defensive tackle Henry Melton, as he suffered a knee injury in the regular-season finale.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
