New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers Odds, and Picks (Sep 18)

• New Orleans snuck past the Titans in Week 1, winning 16-15.
• Carolina struggled against Atlanta, losing 24-10 in their opener.
• These two teams last met on January 8, in a game the Panthers won 10-7.

The NFL season has officially begun! Let’s preview the upcoming Saints vs Panthers NFC South clash. New Orleans is aiming to build on a Week 1 win, while Carolina wants to see Bryce Young developing.

How to Watch

• ESPN

Preview

The Saints got a win to kick off their Derek Carr era, sneaking past a scrappy Titans team. Carr wasn’t exceptional, but played well enough to get the win, and was still certainly an upgrade over some of New Orleans previous options. WR Chris Olave is poised for a massive season after reeling in 8 catches for 112 yards in Week 1. With a capable defense and solid offense, the Saints will continue to climb the NFC South.

Carolina had a rough go of it in their opener, struggling to produce against the Falcons. #1-overall pick Bryce Young had a tumultuous first start, going 20 of 38 for 146 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. Until Young feels comfortable enough to take more shots down the field, the Panthers will rely on Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard. Meanwhile, their defense struggled against both the pass and rush, which is not a good sign.

Prediction

The Panthers should improve in Week 2 with some experience under their belts, for a roster with a lot of new players. Being at home will be helpful too, though Carolina still has a lot of holes to fill. I’m not too concerned about their offense, but the defense’s performance in Week 1 could be an issue moving forward. The Saints will have a chance to exploit that defense here, and I think they’ll manage to do so.

NFL Picks:

• Saints 23, Panthers 17 ()