NFL betting Week 2 action includes a very rare meeting between the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. The two teams have met only once in NFL history and that was in 2002 when the Panthers won 24-14 at home. The Panthers should be a small football betting favorite in this game.
NFL numbers show that last year could have been an aberration for both Chicago and Carolina. The Bears were terrible all the way around, particularly on offense as they ranked 27th in the league according to NFL numbers. The defense wasn’t any better, ranking 28th in the league according to football betting stats. Those numbers should go up substantially in 2008 according to NFL experts as Kyle Orton looks solid at quarterback and the defense is healthy. NFL experts see that Chicago will be looking for another effective outing out of Orton and a solid running attack led by Matt Forte.
Carolina also struggled on offense last season, ranking 29th in the league according to NFL stats. The defense was a little better but still unacceptable for head coach John Fox. Getting quarterback Jake Delhomme healthy is a huge help to the Panthers but they will miss wide receiver Steve Smith who is serving the second game of this two game suspension according to football betting information. Carolina is hoping they can steal a win here without Smith. To do that they will need to avoid turning the ball over and they will need to contain Chicago return man Devin Hester.
As a road underdog in NFL , the Bears are 8-7 the last three years. The Panthers are 7-10 in their last 17 games as a home favorite according to NFL betting stats.
The Bears are 11-11-2 in terms of over/unders on the road the last three years according to NFL stats. The Panthers have been a strong under team at home according to football betting stats. 15 of their last 24 games at home have gone under the NFL total.
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