Carolina at Indianapolis Betting Preview/Week 1 NFL Preseason Picks
15 August 2021
Carolina comes into the 2021 season with plenty of optimism, but this is also a team that is not expected to challenge for a playoff spot. The Panthers dealt with a number of key injuries a season ago, and getting through the preseason with a healthy roster is the main goal.
Indianapolis was a playoff team in 2020 and missed winning the AFC South Division because of a tiebreaker. The Colts are the betting favorites to win that division in the preseason, but they have some questions of their own heading into the year.
The Indianapolis Colts are 1.5-point favorites over the Carolina Panthers in this Week 1 NFL showdown on Sunday night.
Panthers Looking For Consistency
Carolina has been a team that has pulled off some surprising upsets in recent years, but they have also had some miserable losses. Injuries have played a role in the inconsistent play, but the Panthers enter the preseason opener with very few injury concerns.
Running back, Christian McCaffrey is the most important player on this Panthers team, and he should be fully healthy to begin the season. Carolina is going to have to run the ball well if they plan on winning some games during the 2021 season.
Sam Darnold is also set to make his debut for the Panthers after some disappointing seasons with the Jets. The defense needs to put Darnold in positions to succeed, but it's time for him to live up to his reputation.
Quarterback Issues For Colts
The Colts will be without quarterback Carson Wentz on Sunday night and might be without him for a few weeks. This is a huge blow to an offense that was counting on great play from that position.
The defense is also currently without linebacker Darius Leonard, but the Colts are not expected to play many defensive starters in this game. There is plenty of depth on this roster, but they are facing an offense that does have some weapons.
Indianapolis is going to use the preseason games as a chance to figure out the 53-man roster, as this team knows it can compete with anyone once the regular season begins.
Panthers Pick Up Win in Shootout
There are going to be a lot of reserves on the field in this game, but the Panthers are expected to trot out some starters to begin play. This game means more to the Panthers than it does to the Colts, and you will see a much more spirited effort from the visiting team.
The Colts are not going to be a good offensive team until they get Carson Wentz back on the field, but they are facing a bad Panthers defense on Sunday night. Carolina should be able to put up some points, especially as they are facing the second-unit defense of the Colts.
Indianapolis doesn't need to win this game, and that mindset will allow the Panthers to take control of this matchup. Bet the Carolina Panthers and the OVER in this game as the road team is able to pull off the upset win in a high-scoring affair.
Here are all of Dunkel's picks for Week 1 of the preseason:
August 12
Washington at New England
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 122.686; New England 118.759
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 4; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 2; 35
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-2); Under
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh 126.588; Philadelphia 116.141
Dunkel Line & Total: Pittsburgh by 10 ½; 37
Vegas Line & Total: Philadelphia by 1; 34
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+1); Over
August 13
Tennessee at Atlanta
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee 120.216; Atlanta 115.249
Dunkel Line & Total: Tennessee by 5; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Tennessee by 1; 38
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee (-1); Over
Buffalo at Detroit
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Buffalo 119.853; Detroit 120.452
Dunkel Line & Total: Detroit by 1; 34
Vegas Line & Total: Buffalo by 2; 37
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+2); Under
Dallas at Arizona
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Dallas 119.908; Arizona 115.461
Dunkel Line & Total: Dallas by 4 ½; 44
Vegas Line & Total: Arizona by 1 ½; 40
Dunkel Pick: Dallas (+1 ½); Over
August 14
Miami at Chicago
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Miami 118.156; Chicago 123.830
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 5 ½; 30
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 3 ½; 34 ½
Pick: Chicago (-3 ½); Under
Denver at Minnesota
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Denver 124.297; Minnesota 120.951
Dunkel Line & Total: Denver by 3 ½; 28
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 1 ½; 34
Dunkel Pick: Denver (+1 ½); Under
New Orleans at Baltimore
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Orleans 122.816; Baltimore 131.788
Dunkel Line & Total: Baltimore by 9; 38
Vegas Line & Total: Baltimore by 2 ½; 35 ½
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (-2 ½); Over
Cleveland at Jacksonville
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland 112.215; Jacksonville 116.760
Dunkel Line & Total: Jacksonville by 4 ½; 42
Vegas Line & Total: Jacksonville by 1; 37 ½
Dunkel Pick: Jacksonville (-1); Over
Cincinnati at Tampa Bay
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati 119.141; Tampa Bay 121.015
Dunkel Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 2; 31
Vegas Line & Total: Tampa Bay by 6; 33
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+6); Under
NY Jets at NY Giants
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: NY Jets 122.813; NY Giants 120.164
Dunkel Line & Total: NY Jets by 2 ½; 51
Vegas Line & Total: NY Giants by 2; 35
Dunkel Pick: NY Jets (+2); Over
Houston at Green Bay
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston 109.334; Green Bay 122.919
Dunkel Line & Total: Green Bay by 13; 30
Vegas Line & Total: Green Bay by 3; 33 ½
Dunkel Pick: Green Bay (-3); Under
Kansas City at San Francisco
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City 122.369; San Francisco 120.916
Dunkel Line & Total: Kansas City by 1 ½; 32
Vegas Line & Total: San Francisco by 2 ½; 36 ½
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+2 ½); Under
Seattle at Las Vegas
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 123.835; Las Vegas 121.797
Dunkel Line & Total: Seattle by 2; 40
Vegas Line & Total: Las Vegas by 1; 37 ½
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+1); Over
LA Chargers at LA Rams
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: LA Chargers 114.735; LA Rams 120.513
Dunkel Line & Total: LA Rams by 6; 26
Vegas Line & Total: LA Chargers by 3 ½; 35
Dunkel Pick: LA Rams (+3 ½); Under
August 15
Carolina at Indianapolis
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Dunkel Ratings: Carolina 122.309; Indianapolis 120.286
Dunkel Line & Total: Carolina by 2; 36
Vegas Line & Total: Indianapolis by 1 ½; 34
Dunkel Pick: Carolina (+1 ½); Over
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