Can Atlanta/Carolina Combine to Hit the Over?

The two bottom feeders of the NFC South go head-to-head on Thursday Night Football, as the Atlanta Falcons duke it out against the Carolina Panthers.

Atlanta enters this game having lost six of their last seven. Meanwhile, the Panthers have lost two straight after starting the season 3-2.

※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 29th, 11:30 A.M. (EST)

Online bookmaker 10Bet has the O/U set at 51.5.

Carolina has been solid without star RB Christian McCaffrey. With reports that McCaffrey could return to action sooner rather than later, the Panthers need to stay afloat as best they can. A win against the struggling Falcons would put them in a good position to fight for a potential Wild Card berth down the line.

As for the Falcons, they could have easily had a few more wins on their side but they have struggled to close out victories. Twice this season Atlanta has squandered leads late, contributing to their downfall this season.

Carolina has focused on the passing game over the past few weeks and it’s worked out for the Panthers. Teddy Bridgewater has averaged 8.2 passing yards per attempt, which is good for sixth in the league. Bridgewater has also found success tossing up the deep ball to players like Robby Anderson and DJ Moore.

Predictions indicate that this could be a potentially high-scoring contest. While the Falcons may not be able to stop the onslaught of offense from Carolina, the Panthers defense might struggle against the Falcons offense.

When these teams met in week 5 of the season, the squads combined for just 39 points. I would look at the over cautiously, but these teams certainly have the firepower to reach it.