The Carolina Panthers (0-2) face the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) to start the late-afternoon NFL Week 3 slate on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 4:05 p.m. ET from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Raiders are 5.5-point favorites with the game total set at 40. Las Vegas is a -250 favorite on the moneyline, while Carolina is +200 to pull off the upset. The game will be broadcast live on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+ or platforms like YouTube TV.
The Panthers have been blown out twice this season and made a drastic change this week. Quarterback Andy Dalton will start, and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young has been benched in an effort to save the season. The Raiders, meanwhile, are coming off an incredible 26-23 comeback win in Baltimore that saw Gardner Minshew, Davante Adams (9 cathces, 110 yards, 1 touchdown) and Brock Bowers (9 receptions, 98 yards) lead the way in the second half.
Let's get into my Panthers vs. Raiders prediction for Sunday afternoon and my NFL picks and predictions for Week 3.
Panthers vs. Raiders Picks
SPREAD
I'm betting the Panthers this week as an underdog.
MONEYLINE
While I'm betting Carolina against the spread, I'll pass on the moneyline.
TOTAL
I have no pick on the over/under for this game.
Panthers vs. Raiders Pick: Panthers +6
Panthers vs. Raiders Odds
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 40 -110o / -110u | +220 |
| Raiders Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 40 -110o / -110u | -270 |
- Panthers vs. Raiders Point Spread: Raiders -5.5
- Panthers vs. Raiders Total: Over/Under 40
- Panthers vs. Raiders Moneyline: Panthers +195 | Raiders -250
Panthers vs. Raiders: NFL Week 3 Picks
Bryce Young was so ridiculously bad in terms of EPA per play that you're talking about over 0.2 EPA per play, and he was dropping back 30 or 40 times per game. That’s a lot of points that you’re losing by Young being under center.
Now, it’ll be Andy Dalton. He might not be sexy, but we’re talking about a difference of more than one point in EPA per play. There's a very real chance that Dalton is two or three points better than Young in terms of EPA. Young could go down as one of the worst quarterbacks of all-time based on his limited sample size.
The Raiders ruined a lot of people's survivor pools last week by beating the Ravens, but that win was a bit deceiving. The Raiders rank in the bottom four in the NFL in terms of EPA per play. Gardner Minshew has thrown for 250 yards in both games this season, but Las Vegas simply cannot run the ball.
That’s good news for the Panthers defense because this run defense is awful. Slowing down Davante Adams and Brock Bowers won’t be easy, but this is a potential matchup where Carolina could play well.
Best Bet for Panthers vs. Raiders
The Panthers are not going to go 0-17 against the spread. There are many trends about teams that are 0-2 straight-up and against the spread that say this is the time to back Carolina, facing a team that is not 0-2 and coming off an upset win.
I know a lot of people are upset about how the Raiders ruined their survivor pool, but there is nothing about this team that scares me in this spot against Carolina. I don’t think Las Vegas should be laying anywhere near this many points.
I’m going to try to catch the falling knife. Give me Carolina one more time.
Pick: Panthers +6
Betting Trends
- 73% of bets and 68% of the money are on the Raiders to cover the spread.
- 72% of bets and 64% of the money are on the over.
- 95% of bets and 91% of the money on the moneyline are on the Raiders.
How to Watch Panthers vs. Raiders
| Location: | Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas |
| Date: | Sunday, Sept. 22 |
| Kickoff Time: | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS/Paramount+ |
Carolina vs. Las Vegas is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast live on CBS and can be streamed on Paramount+ and platforms like YouTube TV.
Panthers-Raiders Weather
For more on NFL weather for Week 3, click here.
