Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots odds, picks and predictions

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass the ball during the first quarter at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

The Carolina Panthers (1-2) and the New England Patriots (1-2) meet Sunday for a Week 4 game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (FOX). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NFL odds around the Panthers vs. Patriots odds and make our expert NFL picks and predictions for the best bets.

The Panthers picked up a dominating 30-0 win over the division-rival Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte in Week 3. That came on the heels of a comeback attempt in Arizona in Week 2. While the Panthers lost 27-22 to the Cardinals, they scored a backdoor cover as 7.5-point underdogs, and QB Bryce Young threw for a career-best 328 yards. Carolina is slowly but surely looking like an NFL-caliber offense again.

The Patriots lost 21-14 at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, and New England has posted an 0-2 straight-up and against-the-spread (ATS) mark in 2 home games, both 7-point losses, while winning 33-27 at Miami in Week 2 as a 2.5-point underdog as the Over (42.5) cashed. The Under is also 2-0 in 2 home games.

The Patriots have relied on a strong rush defense, which ranks No. 2 in the NFL, allowing just 181 yards and 2.8 yards per carry through 3 games. New England is 1 of 6 teams yet to allow a run of more than 20 yards, while conceding just 11 first downs on the ground.

Patriots QB Drake Maye was decent last week, going for 268 yards and 2 TDs with 1 INT, hooking up with TE Hunter Henry for both scores. However, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, who had just 4 rushing attempts, lost 2 fumbles, including a crucial miscue at the goal line. Look for veteran RB Antonio Gibson and rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson to do most of the lifting against the Panthers Sunday.

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Panthers at Patriots odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 4:34 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Panthers +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Patriots -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Panthers +5.5 (-110) | Patriots -5.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

Panthers at Patriots injuries

Panthers

RB Chuba Hubbard (calf) questionable but expected to play
LB Patrick Jones II (hamstring) out
WR Xavier Legette (hamstring) out
WR Tetairoa McMillan (calf) questionable but expected to play
TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle) out
DT Tershawn Wharton (hamstring) questionable
LB D.J. Wonnum (hip) out

Patriots

LB K'Lavon Chaisson (knee) questionable
CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring) questionable but expected to play
OG Mike Onwenu (shoulder) questionable
OG Jared Wilson (ankle, knee) out

Panthers at Patriots picks and predictions

Prediction

Patriots 23, Panthers 20

Moneyline

You can't risk 2½ times your potential return on a Patriots (-250) team which has dropped each of its first 2 home games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Panthers have played good football lately, showing an ability to move the ball. But, Carolina has several key cogs on the injury report, while the Patriots have 4 starters either questionable or out. That muddies the picture even further.

PASS.

Against the spread

Take CAROLINA +5.5 (-110) catching the points in this road contest.

The Panthers have cashed in each of the past 2 weekends, but there is concern with Hubbard's calf injury, which he picked up late in the week in practice. However, RB Rico Dowdle is the backup, and he shined down the stretch in Dallas last season, and he could be versatile for Young, helping to neutralize a strong New England rush D.

Over/Under

UNDER 43.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.

The Under has cashed in both home losses for the Patriots, who are averaging just 13.5 points per game and allowing 20.5 in 2 games at Gillette Stadium.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Daniel Dobish, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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