2010 Carolina Panthers Future Wager

Free NFL Pick: Take Carolina Over 7.5

The 2009 season for the Carolina Panthers was kind of a disappointing one. After a 12-4 regular season and playoff appearance in 2008, the Panthers took a step back going 8-8 and missing the playoffs. They had to win their last three games of the season to reach the .500 plateau. The 2009 edition had the strongest duo of running backs in Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams each rushed for over 1,100 yards and combined for 18 TD’s. The real downfall of the team was the passing game that saw Jake Delhomme throw for just eight touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Veteran coach John Fox made the pull and went with Matt Moore. A third-year man got his break and made the most of it starting the last five games with the Panthers going 4-1 while completing 62% of his passes for 1,053 yards, eight TD’s and just two INT’s.

The 2010 NFL betting season is looking up for the Panthers as Matt Moore will get his shot to run this team as the exclusive quarterback. With Jake Delhomme gone to the Cleveland Browns via free-agency, management brought in a pair of high profiled rookies to back up Moore in Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen and Cincinnati’s Tony Pike. You can also mix in Hunter Cantwell former Louisville QB to the backup scenario. With Stewart and Williams in the backfield, Carolina should once again have the most potent duo. If one of them goes down, backing them up is second-year man Tyrell Sutton who averaged 5.7 yards per carry in limited action. Rookie Brandon LaFell, a third-round pick from LSU should step right in and be the number two receiver behind veteran Steve Smith who is coming off a season in which he fell short of 1,000 yards by 18. That could have been due to the lack of productivity from Delhomme most of the season. The offensive line is strong with All-Pro tackle Jordan Gross and All-Pro center Ryan Kalil. Throw in monster tackle 6’6” 330 lb Jeff Otah and you have one of the top run blocking lines in the league.

The defense should be fine despite losing long-time face of the organization Julius Peppers who took a lucrative free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears. The ends will be a little on the small side, but should have some meat in the middle. The linebacking corps may be the best in the league with Jon Beason, Thomas Davis and Dan Conner. The secondary led by Chris Gamble who had four picks held opponents to just 191 yards per game last season, their best effort in three seasons. Do not expect a drop off from this young defense.

The schedule is favorable for the Panthers as they play just four playoff teams from last year. Super Bowl champion New Orleans is in NFC South so they will play them twice, but play Arizona, Baltimore and Cincinnati just once. They have Tampa Bay twice, St Louis, Cleveland and Seattle on the schedule which softens the load. We see this team going 9-7 with a slim chance at the NFL playoffs.

Free NFL Pick: Take Carolina Over 7.5

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