4% Carolina Team Total OVER (1:00 ET): Can’t think of a better way to start the first NFL Sunday of the season than by backing the Panthers to go Over their team total. Now, I know what you’re saying. Last year was a disgusting brand of football in Carolina as the offense averaged league-low 13.9 points per game and QB Bryce Young had one of the poorer rookie seasons ever. Incredibly, the Panthers went Over this total just ONCE in the final 10 games and that was a 33-30 loss to the Packers. The team ended a dismal 2-15 SU season by getting shut out in its final two games and didn’t even get to draft #1 overall (despite having the worst record) because of the Young trade with Chicago. 

ALL of that being said, things promise to be a lot better this year in Carolina. For starters, they can’t get any worse. But hiring Dave Canales as the new HC was the first step in the right direction. Canales has earned a reputation in league circles as a “QB whisperer” of sorts, having previously resurrected the seemingly lost careers of Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. So there’s definite hope for Young to make a “second-year leap,” much the same way Jared Goff did in Detroit following a similarly dire rookie campaign. 

There is help in the WR room with Diontae Johnson coming over from Pittsburgh and first-round draft choice Xavier Legette out of South Carolina. Rookie RB Jonathon Brooks (Texas) getting hurt wasn’t ideal, but Chubba Hubbard is more than capable of putting up the same kind of numbers we saw out of Rachaad White in Tampa last year under Canales. Now the Saints are thought to have the best defense in the NFC South, but I feel the clock is ticking on the Dennis Allen era in the Big Easy. Whether or not the Panthers can actually win this game, or are forced to play catchup against Derek Carr and the New Orleans’ offense, look for them to go Over their team total. One other thing: last year Young ran for 40 and 34 yards in the two games against the Saints. So don’t be surprised if he makes a big play or two with his legs here. 4% Carolina Team Total Over (Play to 20)