As the Carolina Panthers’ season continues to unravel with a record of 1-9, the only thing worse than being a diehard fan of the team is being a fan who also has been betting on Carolina, perhaps figuring that the points the underdog Panthers are getting will make them winners in a wager. Fans can’t bet in-state yet, of course, as North Carolina sports betting remains a few months away.
In their most recent loss to Dallas last Sunday, the Panthers were getting 11 points against the Cowboys, but that wasn’t nearly enough as Dallas romped, 33-10. In fact, Carolina has gotten double-digit points in two other games this season, against Miami (14) and Detroit (10), and failed to win with the points in both losses.
The Nitty-Gritty on Carolina ATS
The Panthers’ playoff chances hit the road as they entered midseason with only one win. The only game that Carolina has managed to win as a betting proposition was the only game that the Panthers won outright, 15-13, over Houston. Carolina was getting 3.5 points in that one.
So, with their 1-9 record in the actual standings, the Panthers are threatening to finish even worse than their 2002 counterparts, who were 1-15. That’s because the Panthers have an opportunity (if that’s the right word) to go 1-16 this season. The NFL schedule has been extended by one game in recent years.
There are no N.C. betting apps, but you can get the Panthers as a 3.5-point and +155 moneyline underdog at BetMGM nationally.
There’s Bad, Then There’s Historically Bad
However, as suggested above, there’s been even more downside to the Panthers’ performance so far this season from a wagering perspective. Carolina is 1-7-2 against the point spread, which puts the Panthers on track for being historically bad in a 20-year review.
Since 2003, no team has had any fewer than three wins against the spread, according to the website teamrankings.com.
In the two decades since the 2003 season, the worst ATS records were 3-13, and they belonged to the 2003 Oakland Raiders (who were 4-12 in the actual standings) and the 2007 Baltimore Ravens (who were 5-11 in the standings).
Other teams that had exceptionally miserable records against the spread since 2003 with 3-12-1 records ATS were the 2011 Los Angeles Rams, the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles, the 2014 Tennessee Titans and the 2016 Cleveland Browns.
As far as Carolina is concerned, the 2010 Panthers were 4-12 against the spread but a decent 7-9 in the actual standings. When legal wagering does come to the state, be sure to know where to find North Carolina sportsbook promos.
Perhaps, the lesson to be gleaned from all this is that while the points an underdog is getting might be tempting – after all, it might fill a bettor with some confidence that his team is ahead, say, 10-0 at kickoff – betting on bad teams is risky business.
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