Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The Carolina Panthers will hit the road in week 17 in an NFL pro football game against NFC south rivals the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon.
Kick off time from Atlanta is set for 1PM Eastern Time with television coverage provided by FOX.
The betting odds opened up with the home team Atlanta Falcons favored by -14 ½ points with an over under of 41 points.
The early money from the NFL wagering public has come on the side of the home team as the Atlanta Falcons have been bet up to a -15 point favorite. The total has not moved off the opening line of 41 points.
Atlanta Falcons money line gamblers will lay -1050 odds with the road underdog Carolina Panthers returning +675 odds to earn the outright win without the aid of a point spread.
Click Here for a Free $100 Bet on this NFL Pro Football Game
It was a one sided affair when these two NFC south clubs battled for the first time this season as Atlanta delivered a 31-10 road win at Carolina as a -7 point road favorite back on December 12th.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed 20 of 34 passes for 227 yards a touchdown and pick. Running back Michael Turner had a big game against the Panthers with 112 yards on 28 carries and three rushing touchdowns.
Carolina didn’t get much through the air as rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 14 of 24 passes for 107 yards with no touchdowns and a pick. The team found production on the ground as Jonathan Stewart rushed for 133 yards on 18 carries and Mike Goodson gained 70 yards and a touchdown on 9 rushing attempts.
The Carolina Panthers enters this week 17 meeting with the Falcons with an overall record of 2-13 this season. The team puts up 12 points and 256 yards per game.
The Panthers are on the road for the eighth time this season where they sit at 0-7. The team has dropped 8 of their past 9 games. They are coming off a 27-3 road loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday night as a +14 point underdog.
Carolina put up just 119 yards and converted on 3 of 13 on third down. The team ran the ball 22 times for 74 yards for a 3.4 yards per rush average. The team turned it over twice and got two back from their AFC north opponent.
Quarterback Jimmy Clausen completed 10 of 23 passes for 72 yards with no touchdowns and a pick.
Running back Jonathan Stewart on 18 carries ran for 71 yards. Mike Goodson had 4 carries for 3 yards. He caught 2 passes for 23 yards.
Steve Smith led the wide receivers with just 3 catches for 17 yards.
On defense the Panthers allows its opponents 25 points and 334 yards per game.
The Panthers defense allowed the Steelers offense to produce 408 yards and converted on 4 of 12 on third down. Carolina allowed Pittsburgh to run it 33 times for 115 yards for a 3 ½ yards per rush average. The team held the Steelers inside the red zone as they allowed two touchdowns in six red zone appearances.
The Panthers allowed the opposing quarterback to hit on 22 of 32 passes for 320 yards with a touchdown and no picks.
Atlanta enters their final regular game of the season with a mark of 12-2. The team puts up 26 points and 349 yards per game.
The Falcons sit in the number one seed in the conference and with a victory against the Panthers the team will lock up home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Should Atlanta lose and New Orleans wins the Falcons will qualify for the playoffs as a wildcard team.
Atlanta plays at home for the eighth time this season where they stand at 6-1. Their lone home loss came last Monday night in a 17-14 defeat to NFC south rivals the New Orleans Saints as a -2 point favorite.
Atlanta was able to gain just 215 yards and converted on 3 of 12 on third down. The team ran the ball 22 times for 75 yards for just a 3.4 yards per rush average.
The Falcons turned the ball over twice and took two away from New Orleans. Atlanta earned a touchdown via a pass interception return so their offense accounted just for 7 points.
Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 15 of 29 passes for 148 yards with a touchdown and no picks.
Running back Michael Turner had 17 rushes for 48 yards with no touchdowns and a critical fumble near the Saints end zone that cost the team a touchdown.
Wide out Roddy White had three catches for 43 yards and a score. Michael Jenkins contributed with 5 receptions for 40 yards.
The Falcons defense allows its opponents 18 points and 332 yards per game.
The team allowed the Saints offense to gain 368 yards and to convert on 8 of 17 on third down. The Falcons held their NFC south divisional rivals to 72 yards on the ground on 24 carries for a 3.0 yards per rush average. Atlanta allowed New Orleans two touchdowns in two red zone appearances.
The Falcons allowed the opposing quarterback to complete 35 of 49 passes for 302 yards with a touchdown and two picks.
For the Latest NFL Odds Please Visit our NFL Odds Page
NFL Trend: Atlanta Falcons are 9-3-2 ATS in their past 13 home meetings versus Carolina Panthers.
Tags: Atlanta falcons, betting, Carolina panthers, fox tv, january 2nd 2011, nfl, Odds, pick, preview, pro football, sunday
