Panthers at Chargers NFL Betting Odds

The San Diego Chargers are considered one of the Super Bowl and AFC West favorites this NFL betting season with superstar running back LaDainian Tomlinson and a rock solid defense. That defense took a hit though as linebacker Shawne Merriman is out with what looks to be a season-ending injury. The Chargers are still heavy NFL betting favorites in this game. They are a 9 point favorite in NFL odds with a total of 42.5. The Chargers were excellent at home last season going a super 7-1 against the NFL betting pointspread.

The key in this game will be whether or not Carolina can put points on the board against the San Diego defense. It may not be easy considering the Panthers are missing their top receiver, Steve Smith who is out due to a two-game suspension according to NFL betting information. The Panthers do get quarterback Jake Delhomme back from injury this season and they are a much different offense when he is healthy. The Panthers did add Mushin Muhammad in the off-season and he could be helpful in Smith’s absence. Sportsbook have the Panthers +2000 in NFL odds to win the NFC Championship and the Chargers +450 in NFL betting odds to win the AFC Championship.

"The whole thing with Steve being out for the first couple of games, with our numbers depleted, it's a good thing that our running backs are running as well as they are right now, and guys like myself, D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett, Travis Taylor -- we're going to have to step up and make some plays." Muhammad said. The Panthers will look to exploit the middle of the San Diego defense without Merriman. Running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart will need to run effectively if the Panthers are to stay in the game and Delhomme will also have to avoid turning the ball over. San Diego cornerback Antonio Cromartie led the NFL with 10 interceptions last year according to NFL betting stats. The Chargers will look to Tomlinson on the ground for most of their offense but quarterback Phillip Rivers also has looked good in the preseason. He had off-season surgery and is moving around very well.

“I was excited and very pleased about the way Philip moved around,” head coach Norv Turner said. “I think that’s the biggest test you have when you’re coming off the type of surgery that Philip had. Can you move with that naturalness, that fluidness, and be your old self sitting in the pocket and throwing and doing the things we do in practice?’” Carolina was 5-3 on the road last season against the NFL betting number. The Panthers were 4-3 as a road dog last season versus the NFL odds. Since 2001 the two teams have met only once on the NFL schedule during the regular season and San Diego was victorious by a score of 17-6 at Carolina in the 2004 season according to NFL betting stats.