The Panthers are 10-point favorites this morning for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against Arizona. They're also getting love from experts and other football pundits.
As promised, here's your update on the latest picks. See earlier picks here and click on available links below to see what experts picked on the weekend's other games.
Tell us your prediction, too.
AccuScore: Computer sports forecaster has run more than 10,000 simulations, with the Panthers winning 80 percent of the time, up slightly from earlier this week. Average score: Carolina 29.2, Arizona 18.5.
Scouts, Inc: Carolina 27, Arizona 24: Arizona blew a halftime lead and could not put the game away in the second half of its first meeting versus the Panthers because of the Cardinals' inability to run the ball. This gave the Panthers' offense way too many possessions in the second half of the game. Arizona has a newfound run game with the re-emergence of RB Edgerrin James. His success over the past two weeks has given the Cardinals offensive balance.
The Cardinals did a great job against (Atlanta RB Michael) Turner last week, and it will take the same effort versus the Panthers' one-two punch. The difference this week will be that even if Arizona handles the Panthers' dynamic duo, Steve Smith will be left in too many one-on-one situations for the Cardinals to contend with. While we do give the Cardinals a chance to win this game, the Panthers are 8-0 at home and you just can't pick against that stat. We like the Panthers in another close win over the Cardinals.
USA Today weekly staff picks: Carolina wins - Jarrett Bell, Nate Davis, Sean Leahy, Tom Pedulla, Larry Weisman, Skip Wood, Jeff Zillgitt. Arizona wins - Jim Corbett.
Harmon Forecast, CBS Sportsline: Carolina 30, Arizona 20. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner faces a Panthers defense that allowed 178 first downs through the air and 19 passing touchdowns. In the first meeting, Warner threw for 381 passing yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Panthers finished the season averaging 152.3 yards per game on the ground and had a league-high 29 touchdowns on the ground. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in the previous game.
CBS football experts (picks made against 9.5-point spread):
Pete Prisco - CBSSports.com Senior writer:- Arizona.
Clark Judge - CBSSports.com Senior writer: Arizona.
SPiN dog - Click here for other SPiN picks: Carolina.
Peter Madden - CBSSports.com Fantasy Sports Managing Editor: Arizona
Dave Richard - CBSSports.com Senior Fantasy writer: Carolina.
Darin Gantt/Kent Somers, Sporting News: Panthers 31, Cardinals 24. The Cardinals were considered suspect by many before their Wild Card win over Atlanta, but they emerged victorious by playing physical defense and distracting QB Matt Ryan with disruptive pressure up front and new blitzes. (QB Jake) Delhomme's seen it all, however, and tends to look his best in the postseason.
If the Panthers can get any kind of pressure on (QB Kurt) Warner (and that's hard), it will help a back seven which has given up a lot of yards lately. That'll allow the Panthers to play the kind of ball-control offense they like. The Panthers have been getting a huge lift at home, and that might make it tough for anyone to win here.
NFL.com's senior writer Steve Wyche: Carolina and its well-rounded offense has "the edge."
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8 years ago
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ReplyDeletefarmer, it's obvious Pete Prisco knows about as much about football as I do about succeeding at life. I wouldn't worry about him, he's a tool.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Nick Mackey
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ReplyDeletea 10 point favorite is high, but carolina get it done because of the leadership, experience and home field advanatge and the "weather"..
ReplyDeletePanthers are boviously gonna blow arizona out of the water they are complete garbage team, I am frankly suprised they have not been kicked out of the NFL for being so terrible, the sheer fact they are in the play off is amazing. I am not even worried about this game and I am looking towards the nexts week game when the panthers are gonna kill the giants in NY. And I hope that the Panther organization has the same outlook on this situation that I and so many other people do.
ReplyDeletePanthers win and win Big....No Games this time...
ReplyDeleteI really hope that you've all already discounted the Cards similar to the fashion of the Anonymous Sage above. Should help the Cards if ya'll think that you're playing PHI/NYG already.
ReplyDelete-Mad Man Bidwell