NFL Game Day Betting: Carolina Vs New Orleans

Carolina at New Orleans

The 13 point underdog Carolina Panthers will try to achieve the biggest upset of the season as they visit the undefeated (and in my opinion the best team in the league) New Orleans Saints at 4:05 PM ET at the Superdome in a NFC South division rivals game.

NFL Betting Odds:

Carolina Panthers +13
New Orleans Saints -13
O/U 52

The Panthers are coming off a big upset win 34-21 against the NFC Champions Arizona Cardinals. RB duo DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart ran for almost 250 yards combined against the number 1 run defense. The Saints on the other side battled to beat the Falcons 35-27 on Monday Night.

If Carolina wants to get their second upset in a row they will need a similar performance from their RB duo in other to keep the Saints high power offense off the field.

"I think we've run the ball pretty effectively over the last month," Coach John Fox said. "That's not the area we've been concerned with."

Carolina is averaging 217.6 yards rushing in its last three games after failing to reach 100 in three of its first four and now they a New Orleans’ rushing defense that allows 102.1 yards per game and 9 TDs on the ground.

The Panthers will look also to keep Jake Delhomme mistake free after taking good care of the football last week, however it doesn’t seem like a good matchup for him as he face the team with the most interceptions in the NFL (16 INT).

Darren Sharper is definitely having a season for the ages as he picked off his seventh pass last week, giving the Saints 16 overall. They have at least one INT in every game.

"The way we've been able to get turnovers and score is a big reason we're where we're at right now," coach Sean Payton said.

Of course everything above won’t count if the Panthers can’t stop the most prolific offense in the NFL, especially since the Saints aren’t content with things as they are.

"I think our best is yet to come," said Drew Brees, who leads an offense that is averaging an NFL-best 39.0 points per game.

Brees threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns in the last meeting against Carolina; the difference is that the Panthers now rank No. 1 vs. the pass and are coming off 5 interceptions against a good Cardinals offense.

NFL Betting Tip: If you’re betting on the game total remember it has gone OVER in 10 of Carolina's last 15 games and it has gone OVER in 6 of New Orleans's last 8 games.

Last 6 Head to Head Matchups

• Dec 28, 2008 CAR 33, NOR 31
• Oct 19, 2008 CAR 30, @NOR 7
• Nov 25, 2007 CAR 6, @NOR 31
• Oct 7, 2007 CAR 16, NOR 13
• Dec 31, 2006 CAR 31, NOR 21
• Oct 1, 2006 CAR 21, @NOR 18

My pick: Saints. Over.