Six weeks into the NFL season, teams are beginning to show who they truly are and a few of the results have been far different than what the oddsmakers predicted.
With mobile North Carolina sports betting only a few months away, it only makes sense to start paying closer attention to relevant trends.
On the downside of preseason forecasting are the Carolina Panthers, whose fortunes have declined dramatically from the optimistic outlook that was generated when they drafted quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. The Panthers’ playoff chances certainly have taken a hit.
The Panthers are in an 0-6 freefall at the bottom the NFC South, a weak division in which Carolina should have been competitive. When the season began, the Panthers had an over-under total win number of 7.5 at BetMGM North Carolina. But as the season has unraveled for Carolina, its forecasted win total has dropped to 3.5. At that 3.5 number, the Over is -140 and the Under is +115.
Bryce Young’s odds for Rookie of the Year also keep going downhill amid his struggles. Missing a game with an ankle injury didn’t help.
About Panthers, Other Teams as Numbers Shift
Betting statistics regarding the Panthers’ win total that are particularly eyebrow- raising are that, as of Thursday, only 4% of the wagering handle and just 16% of the betting tickets are on the Over at BetMGM.
The next most pessimistic outlook by bettors is on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with just 7% of the handle on Tampa Bay hitting the Over on a win total that’s now at 8.5 victories. Tampa Bay’s opening line was 6.5 wins. After a 3-1 start to the season, the forecasted win total reached as high as 9.5.
New England is a team whose projected win total has dropped (to 4.5 wins) and yet the betting public has shied away from the Over at even a depressed win total number. The Patriots opened the season with a forecasted total of 7.5 wins at -140 odds for the Over. Even though the win total has come down to 4.5 (at -140) for the Over, the handle on the Over is just 12%.
On the flip side of the win total futures bet are the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers started the season with a forecasted win total of 8.5 at -120 for the Over. After a 3-2 start, the Steelers’ win total is still at 8.5 at -120, but bettor optimism has 95% of the betting handle on the Over. Perhaps, that’s a reflection of confidence bettors have in Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who has not had a losing season in his 16-year career.
When legal betting does start in the state, make sure to have NC sportsbook promos at the ready.
MORE: How Does NFL Betting Work?
