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Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers NFL Predictions & Odds

Written by Jimmy Boyd

A pair of division leaders meet in this high profile non-conference matchup Sunday afternoon. The Denver Broncos are leading the AFC West with an 8-5 record and are coming off a 24-17 win over Kansas City. The Carolina Panthers are leading the NFC South at 10-3 and are coming off a decisive win over division rival Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football. The Panthers are now 7-0 at home on the year and NFL odds makers don’t see that changing any time soon by listing Carolina as a 7.5-point favorite with the total set at 47.5.

It was supposed to be the year the San Diego Chargers made a Super Bowl run out of the AFC West, but instead the Denver Broncos has emerged as the team to beat in the weak division. Denver has now won 4 of its last 5 games which includes strong wins over the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. Offensively, QB Jay Cutler is having the type of breakout season the Broncos had hoped for and I only see this kid getting better. Last week, Cutler carved Kansas City up by completing on 32 of 40 passes. The Broncos were able to get playmaker Brandon Marshall heavily involved. He has 11 catches and two touchdowns and I believe that will be the game play once again this week. The running game has been dealt blow after blow this season due to the injury bug, but the Broncos continue to do enough to keep teams honest. The Broncos gained 139 yards on the ground on one of the worst defenses in football last week. They know yards in the trenches will be much tougher to come by in this contest. The key for Denver this week will be stopping Carolina’s running attack. Carolina rolled over the Bucs last week with 301 yards rushing between Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Denver has actually been at its most profitable on the road this season for NFL betting backers with a 4-2 straight up and against the spread mark. If you look for this to continue this week, bet the Broncos at +7.5 at BetUS.

Last Monday’s win over division rival Tampa Bay to take over sole possession of first place was Carolina’s biggest win of the season. Now the Panthers cannot afford any letdowns. If Denver learned anything from watching Carolina’s last game, it will be to make Jake Delhomme beat them through the air. Delhomme has not been sharp. He was picked off twice against the Bucs, leading to their first 10 points. When the Broncos do force the Panthers to take to the air, they better know where wide receiver Steve Smith is at all times. Smith set a franchise record for career 100-yard receiving games after catching nine passes for 117 yards. He also went over 1,000 yards receiving in the game. The story of Monday night’s decisive win was the running back tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart however. The duo combined for 301 yards rushing on 34 carries and scored nfour touchdowns. And that came against a defense that entered the game giving up less than 100 rushing yards per game and had allowed just one rushing touchdown all season.

Defensively, the Panthers can stand to improve against the pass. What was lost in Monday’s win was the fact that QB Jeff Garcia through for 321 yards and wideout Antonio Bryant came up with nine catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Marshall is similar to Bryant and could prove to be a problem for the Panthers. If you like Carolina to handle its business this week, bet the Panthers at -7.5 at BetUS.

Jimmy Boyd will help you break down the NFL lines each and every week in his NFL previews. If you’re looking for an added boost of confidence, check to see who Jimmy is betting in his Week 15 NFL picks package.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 10, 2008 · Filed Under NFL Betting Articles, News & Previews

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