Aug 03, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws a pass during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
- The Carolina Panthers visit the New England Patriots in each team’s first game of the 2024 NFL preseason.
- The Panthers and Patriots were 2 of the worst teams in the NFL last season and both have new coaches heading into the 2024 campaign.
- Check out the next section to see our favorite plays from Thursday’s preseason opener.
The Carolina Panthers pay a visit to Foxboro on Thursday night in a matchup of 2 of the worst offenses from the 2023 NFL season. Both teams have new coaches — Carolina’s Dave Canales and New England’s Jerrod Mayo. Which team will get its preseason off to a good start? Check out this preseason opener at 7 p.m. ET on the NFL Network.
Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots Picks
- Carolina +6.5 (-110)
- Under 33.5 points (-110)
You won’t find any player props for this game over at bet365, as it’s still unclear which players will play and which will sit. But when it’s a preseason opener, I’ll take the underdog to cover. Even without Bryce Young playing, the Panthers should be able to keep this game close.
I’ll take Carolina to cover the 6.5-point spread at -110 odds at bet365. As for the points total, I’ll go with the under. These were 2 of the worst offenses during the 2023 season. Despite both teams having new coaches and the Patriots having the No. 3 overall pick at QB, I don’t expect a ton of offense in this game.
Thus, I’m picking the under at 33.5 points for -110 odds at bet365 for this matchup.
Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | +6.5 (-110) | +265 | O 33.5 (-110) |
| New England Patriots | -6.5 (-110) | -330 | U 33.5 (-110) |
Odds via bet365 as of Wednesday, August 7. Use Sports Betting Dime’s bet365 promo code SBDXLM when you sign up for an account now and you’ll receive a choice between two elite welcome bonuses — a first-bet safety net of up to $1,000 or $150 in bonus bets when you place your first $5+ wager.
The Carolina Panthers are road underdogs in this game, as I detailed above. You can get the Panthers at +6.5 for -110 odds on bet365. The Patriots to win by 7+ points is also at -110 odds. The Pats are heavy -330 favorites on the moneyline. If you think Carolina can win outright, you can find +265 odds on bet365. The point total is set at over/under 33.5 points, with equal -110 odds on both sides.
Carolina Panthers vs New England Patriots In and Out
The Carolina Panthers have already said Bryce Young won’t be playing in this game. That means rookie QB Jack Plummer will likely get a lot of run.
I still think the Panthers can cover the spread, mostly because I don’t think Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett will see much work in this preseason debut. Dave Canales has already ruled Young out, but the Panthers have enough exciting young players on offense that watching Plummer play with them won’t be a complete waste of time:
Head Coach @Panthers Dave Canales said Bryce Young will not play in the preseason game against the @Patriots this Thursday
This opens up an opportunity for rookie QB Jack Plummer. Canales said he’s a hard worker @CSLonQCN #keeppounding pic.twitter.com/IjuMhpkQaR
— Madison Palumbo (@MadisonTPalumbo) August 6, 2024
Exactly how much work Maye and Brissett get remains to be seen. It’ll also be interesting to see how much young WRs Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker play, given the promising reports from them out of camp. Will the Pats save their top offensive threats for later in the preseason? Or will we see them get some serious run?
Tune in to the NFL Network at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday night to find out!
Adam is an avid college sports fan, covering both football and basketball. During the summer months, he’s all-in on MLB action, favoring pitcher strikeout parlays.
The Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots are set to face off in their first preseason matchup of the 2021 NFL season. Both teams will be looking to evaluate their rosters and make final decisions on who will make the cut for the regular season.
The Panthers are coming off a disappointing 5-11 season in 2020, but have made some key additions in the offseason to bolster their roster. Quarterback Sam Darnold was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets, and he will be looking to prove himself as the team’s franchise quarterback. The Panthers also added veteran cornerback A.J. Bouye and drafted cornerback Jaycee Horn in the first round to improve their defense.
On the other hand, the Patriots are looking to bounce back from a 7-9 season in 2020, their first losing season since 2000. They made a splash in free agency by signing tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, as well as wide receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. Quarterback Cam Newton is expected to start the season under center, but rookie Mac Jones will be looking to push him for the starting job.
In terms of betting tips for this matchup, it’s important to consider that preseason games can be unpredictable. Coaches often use these games to evaluate their players and try out different strategies, so the outcome may not always reflect the true strength of the teams.
That being said, the Patriots are currently favored by 3.5 points in this matchup, according to most sportsbooks. This could be due to their strong offseason acquisitions and the uncertainty surrounding the Panthers’ quarterback situation. However, it’s worth noting that preseason games are often decided by the depth of each team’s roster, so it’s important to keep an eye on which players are seeing playing time.
Ultimately, this preseason matchup between the Panthers and Patriots will provide fans with a glimpse of what to expect from both teams in the upcoming season. While betting on preseason games can be risky, it can also be a fun way to get a taste of football before the regular season kicks off. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the game!