Week 7 Point Spread: New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers

We continue our preview of the odds and point spread of the NFL Week 7 games with the New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers NFC South face-off. The New Orleans Saints (3-3) will have the chance on Sunday to re-establish their presence in the NFC South when they visit the Carolina Panthers (4-2) in a game important for the morale in both football teams. The Saints will come out after a big victory last week against the struggling Raiders (3-34) in a must win game in a division where the remaining teams are all with 4-2 season record. Meanwhile the Carolina Panthers (4-2) will get their chance to at least affirm their second spot and possibly take the lead in the NFC South standings (the Falcons are in their bye week).

But boosting the second-ranked league defense is not helping the Saints with the odds makers. At the online sports betting website Bookmaker, the odds are favoring the Carolina Panthers at -155, while New Orleans will be a slight underdog with odds +135 on winning their Week 7 game this Sunday. The New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers point spread is currently sitting at -3 points chalk the Panthers and the odds makers have set the total at 44 points. Keep in mind that the Panthers have won 4 out of the last 5 games against the Saints, but according to the latest betting trends, New Orleans is 4-2 against the spread in its last 6 games and 5-0 against the spread in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Carolina. Also consider the fact that the total has gone UNDER in 5 of Carolina's last 5 games when playing at home against New Orleans.

Injuries appear to be a lesser of a problem with the Panthers, as well. Carolina wide receiver D.J. Hackett is the only player missing Wednesday practice, while linebackers Thomas Davis and Adam Seward, along with wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad did a limited practice yesterday and are expected to make the team on Sunday. New Orleans defense, however, being the cornerstone of the Saints game this year, will take a hit with DTs Sedrick Ellis and Antwan Lake missing Wednesday practice, along with cornerback Mike McKenzie, while wide receiver Marques Colston, cornerback Aaron Glenn and tight end Jeremy Shockey did a limited one yesterday.

Published on 10/16/2008