The debut season of Frank Reich’s reign in Charlotte kicks off in Atlanta on Sept. 10 when the Carolina Panthers square off against an NFC South rival in Week 1. That’s when Panthers fans will get their first taste of rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who comes to Charlotte as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, across North Carolina sports betting.
Young arrived in Charlotte via the University of Alabama, where he won the 2021 Heisman Trophy after throwing for 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns (to 12 interceptions) — guiding the Crimson Tide to a 23-4 mark as their starting signal-caller. To get a sense of where Reich and the Panthers are headed in the new league year, BetCarolina.com compiled hypothetical odds on when Carolina’s first loss will come in 2023. Be sure to also bookmark our Panthers playoff chances page before the regular season starts.
Hypothetical Odds On Panthers First Loss
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When Will Panthers’ 1st Loss Come in 2023?
Given the Panthers’ preseason win total over/under of 7.5 on Caesars Sportsbook, the odds are not in Carolina’s favor, starting with that Week 1 clash with the Falcons. That’s why we see Carolina having a 55% chance of starting the year 0-1, which is by far the highest percentage of the team’s first five opponents — followed by Week 2’s clash at home against the New Orleans Saints (30%) and their Week 3 road showdown against the Seattle Seahawks (12.5%).
Given the Panthers last eclipsed seven wins in a season six years ago (when they went 11-5 under Ron Rivera’s leadership), it seems fairly safe to say that Carolina’s first loss of 2023 should come sooner rather than later. One thing that is in Carolina’s favor this year is that they have the 27th toughest strength of schedule (according to Pro Football Network), ranking ahead of only the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Falcons and Saints.
One way or another, we’ll see how ready for primetime the Panthers are, beginning with their Week 1 showdown in Atlanta against the Falcons. Stick with BetCarolina.com for more Panthers coverage in the coming weeks, plus the best North Carolina sportsbook promos.
