NFL Sports Book Odds Makers Give Panthers Little Shot vs. Steelers on Dec. 23rd

The NFL sports book odds makers are giving the Carolina Panthers little shot to keep their game with the Pittsburgh Steelers close on Thursday, Dec. 23rd.

The Steel Men are 2 touchdown favorites but that doesn’t appear to be bothering the football handicappers as roughly 74% of them are backing Pitt to cover the spread in this game.  Carolina has the worst record in pro football at 2 and 12 while Pittsburgh is at 10 and 4.

But the Steelers go into this Thursday night contest having lost straight up to the New York Jets as favorites.  Will they bounce back on Dec. 23rd? 

Carolina Panthers (2-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)

Where:  Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When:  Dec. 23rd, 2010 at 8:20 pm EST
TV:  NFL Network
Radio:  Sirius-XM 125 (CAR) 126 (PIT) 

NFL Betting Line

Carolina Panthers                     +14 -110         O 37 -110

Pittsburgh Steelers                    -14 -110          U 37 -110

The trends favor neither team in this matchup.

• The Carolina Panthers are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 10 ½ points or greater.
• The Carolina Panthers are 0 and 5 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers are 4 and 1 ATS in their last 5 versus a team with a losing record.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers are 1 and 4 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite of 10 ½ points or greater.

The trends say that, because of the NFL sports book odds on this game, the Carolina Panthers are the team to back versus the spread, but I’m not buying it.  Just because the Panthers have done well as 10 ½ point dogs in the past, it doesn’t mean that they will do well as a 10 ½ point dog versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Pittsburgh blew their game versus the New York Jets last Sunday.  They had a chance to pretty much sew up the AFC North Division but couldn’t beat Rex Ryan’s Jets.  Now, they’re in an important game versus one of the worst teams in the league.  How will they respond?  Very well, is my guess.  Pittsburgh has the edge in every single category on both offense and defense versus the Panthers in this game, which is why they’re such big NFL sports book odds faves.

Pittsburgh rushes for 122.1 yards per game, that ranks them 8th in the league, while Carolina’s D gives up, on average, 126.2 yards per game on the ground.  Pittsburgh’s vaunted defense has a flawed secondary that allows 228.4 yards per game through the air.  Unfortunately for the Carolina Panthers, they are absolutely horrid in the passing game. 

The Panthers have one of the worst passing attacks that I believe I’ve ever seen in pro football making me question why they are only a 14-point NFL sports book odds dog in this.  Carolina averages a measly 149 passing yards per game.  Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen has thrown 2 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for a 59.1 rating.  QB Matt Moore, who started the season under center, joined the injured reserve list after Week 9 with a 55.6 QB rating in his back pocket.  Carolina is ranked 32nd in the league in total yards with 266 per game, 32nd in passing yards (obviously!) and 32nd in points scored with 13.1 per game.

The one shining star on Carolina’s futile offensive unit has been RB Jonathan Stewart.  Stewart has rushed for over 130 yards and at least a 5.0 per average carry in each of the Panthers’ last two games.  Unfortunately for the Panthers, Pittsburgh only allows 63.4 yards per game on the ground.  Carolina has no shot in this contest.  None.

Steelers all the way to cover in this game.

NFL Betting Pick:  Pittsburgh Steelers -14 -110

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Sources:  espn.com, covers.com, nfl.com