Two NFC South teams in the midst of rebuilding collide in Week 1, as the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons each look to get their new campaign off on the right foot. The Panthers will tout the first-overall pick from this year’s draft, while the Falcons will counter with the first running back taken off the board. Which side will take the season opener happening live in the heart of Atlanta?

Nitrobetting is ready to equip its bettors with the latest news, NFL odds, and special features for the entire duration of the 2023 NFL season. This time, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming NFL Week 1 showdown between the Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons.

Panthers vs. Falcons Game Information

Our initial 53-man roster is in ⬇

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 29, 2023

• When: Sunday, September 10, 2023, 1:00 PM ET
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
• TV: FOX
• Radio: WRFX 99.7 FM (Panthers) // 92.9 The Game FM (Falcons)
• Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
• NFL Odds: Panthers (+3.5) // Falcons (-3.5)

READ MORE: Packers vs. Bears 2023 NFL Week 1 Odds, Preview & Pick

Why Bet on the Carolina Panthers?

After a 1-4 start last season, the Carolina Panthers decided to part ways with head coach Matt Rhule and eventually traded their best player Chrisitan McCaffrey soon after to signal a full rebuild. The Panthers did go 6-6 in the remaining games under interim head coach Steve Wilks, which gives some promise that they’ll be off to a decent start with their rebuild.

Carolina traded up in the draft with the Bears for the first-overall pick and hired former Colts head coach Frank Reich to spearhead the new movement. The team selected Heisman Trophy winner and former national champion Bryce Young out of Alabama. History is on the Panthers’ side, as their former No. 1-overall pick, Cam Newton, turned out to be a superstar who led the team to a Super Bowl appearance. Former Eagles running back Miles Sanders, and receivers D.J. Chark and Adam Thielen, also join the Queen City franchise in hopes of making Young’s rookie NFL season an auspicious one.

The Panthers had one of the worst defenses last season, but so too did the Falcons. Then again, Carolina spent most of its capital on surrounding Young with the best pieces on offense. This leaves the upcoming Week 1 divisional clash up to the upstart offenses on both sides, which will be fascinating to follow despite some expected miscues here and there.

Why Bet on the Atlanta Falcons?

Similar to the Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons were tied in the division basement with identical 7-10 records last season. But in Atlanta’s case, the team had a change of heart midseason under center and decided to give its third-round pick, quarterback Desmond Ridder, the reins to the offense in 2023.

Ridder started the last four games for the Falcons, mostly playing smart football by not making risky throws (no picks thrown in those four games) while also averaging four yards per carry on 16 rushing attempts to show his relative mobility in the pocket. The former Cincinnati standout will now have a stellar weapon in the backfield in Texas running back Bijan Robinson, whom the Falcons selected with the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft.

There are more questions than answers on Atlanta’s offense given the team’s young QB-RB pairing. However, the Falcons did make a serious effort to improve its bottom-10 defense by signing big-name talents like Calais Campbell, Jessie Bates, and Bud Dupree. In turn, this revamped defensive unit might be the secret winning formula for the Falcons, especially against an inexperienced Carolina offense in Week 1.

Panthers vs. Falcons Betting Trends

• The Panthers went 2-6 on the road last season (4-4 ATS).
• Carolina is 3-3 in the last six meetings against Atlanta (4-2 ATS).
• The totals went under in four of those six most recent Panthers-Falcons matchups.
• The Falcons went 6-2 at home the previous season (4-4 ATS).
• Atlanta is 5-2 in its last seven outings against their NFC South rivals (4-3 ATS).
• The totals went under in five of Atlanta’s last eight homestands.

Panthers vs. Falcons Expert Betting Predictions

Although this matchup isn’t expected to be as entertaining as the other games on Week 1’s slate, there’s still plenty of intrigue to be had seeing how Carolina and Atlanta’s respective rebuilds are going. We’ll have to side with the Falcons here to cover the spread as home favorites, as their defense should be able to keep the Panthers in check while also grinding out the win with a strong rushing attack.

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