Carolina at Atlanta Week 17 Prediction & NFL Betting Pick

The Carolina Panthers have already clinched the first wild card in the NFC playoffs, but when they visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon, they’ll be playing a team that has to win in order to punch their own ticket to the postseason. Atlanta could have clinched the second wild card last week, but they lost to the New Orleans Saints. Seattle remains on the edge of the wild card race and would clinch that last spot if they win and the Falcons lose. So Atlanta has a lot more to play for — while the Panthers would likely relish the chance to play the spoiler on the road. Let’s consider your NFL betting for this NFC South tilt.

Carolina at Atlanta Week 17 Prediction & NFL Betting Pick

We embrace the cold by heating up the intensity 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/OL0wF0d1xr

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 29, 2017

When: Sunday, December 31, 4:25pm ET Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta TV: FOX Radio: WBT 1110 AM Charlotte / 92.9 FM The Game Atlanta Live Stream: NFL Live NFL Betting Odds: Atlanta (-4), O/U 45

Latest NFL Betting Trends

• Carolina is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
• Carolina is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Carolina’s last 6 games
• Atlanta is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games
• Atlanta is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta’s last 5 games

Why should you bet on the Panthers?

Which Cam Newton will show up? The one who led his team to a Super Bowl two seasons ago? Or the one who couldn’t get out of his own way last season? Both versions have shown up at different times this year, although the 2015 version has been in town more consistently — which is how the Panthers have rolled to an 11-4 record so far, including that big win in New England. Wideout Devin Funchess, tailback Christian McCaffrey and tight end Greg Olsen have all played big roles in the passing game this season. When it comes to defense, the Panthers can bring a ferocious pass rush, and they can get shutdown coverage when they need to. The Falcons obviously love to throw the ball and have two outstanding targets in Julio Jones and Mohammed Sanu. However, that mental fragility that became famous in the last Super Bowl has shown up from time to time this year, most recently in their loss to the Saints. If you like the Panthers in this game, you think that the Falcons will falter late. The NFC South games have mostly been close this season, and I don’t expect this to be any different.

Why should you put your money on the Falcons?

Last week, when Atlanta was playing in New Orleans with a chance to clinch, Devonta Freeman coughed up the ball at the New Orleans two-yard line. On another drive, the Falcons had fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line, and the Saints were able to get the stop. The Falcons went just 2 for 13 on third downs and committed 11 penalties for 91 yards. So it seems clear that crunch time is still producing some mental hiccups in this team. They did make it all the way to the Super Bowl last year, but it’s worth asking if they’ve regained their mental toughness. When it comes to offense, there are few teams that can hang with the Falcons when they are on. The problem is that they haven’t been on nearly as much this year as they were last year, and they’ve had to rely on their defense more to get them out of jams. When they only put up 13 points against New Orleans last week, that should have been a red flag — while New Orleans does have a more physical defense this year, the Falcons should have been able to get more passes down the field than they did. If you like the Falcons, you think they can put the awful year that they’ve had (in terms of allowing comebacks and making mental mistakes) behind them and punch their playoff ticket.

Expert Pick and Final Prediction

The Panthers won the first game between these two divisional foes earlier in the season, by the score of 20-17. Carolina could win the NFC South if they beat Atlanta and the Saints lose to Tampa Bay — and the Buccaneers almost beat the Panthers a week ago. So the Panthers will have the motivation to play for a home game next week. The Falcons are playing for the postseason lives — but I’m not sure they have the edge to take this game. I predict a final score of Carolina 30, Atlanta 27.