In a Super Bowl that’s rich with storylines that mainly center around the quarterbacks, let’s focus on the angles that matter most to bettors—the spread and the total. With a number of trends, both recent and historical favoring each team, here’s what you need to know before placing a wager on Super Bowl 50.
- The Panthers are 19-1 SU in their last 20 games as favorites.
- The Broncos are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games after consecutive wins.
- The total has gone UNDER in four of the Broncos' last five games after a win.
- The total has gone OVER in the Panthers' last six games after an ATS win.
- In Super Bowl games after a Star Wars film was released, the team travelling the farthest is 4-2.
It’s been mainly good news for the Panthers and their backers this season as the team enters the game with three straight covers. With the spread fluctuating since it was originally set, the Panthers have been in the ballpark of being 4.5-point to 6-point favorites at most sportsbooks, and this number should be music to the ears of anyone leaning towards Carolina. In their last 12 games as favorites of 6-points or less, the Panthers are 9-3 ATS, and even better, in games this season as a favorite of 4.5 or less, the Panthers are an almost perfect 8-1 ATS.
As for the Broncos, they’ve been a scary team to face when they're underdogs, as they’ve posted a 5-1 SU and 5-0-1 ATS record in their last six games as underdogs. There’s something about winning as an underdog that seems to spark this team, as they’ve managed to go 9-2 SU in their last 11 games after winning as a dog. The Broncos were also a much better bet outside of Denver this season, with a 4-2-2 road ATS record.
From a historical perspective, here’s where things get scary for those siding with the Panthers: The favored team has lost four straight Super Bowls SU and ATS and have only covered in three of the last 15.
Fortunately for Panthers backers, history is also working against the Broncos, as the AFC representative has gone just 11-20 SU and 10-20-1 ATS in the last 21 Super Bowls.
Totals bettors might have a conundrum on their hands here as both teams were at completely different ends of the spectrum this season. The Broncos saw 10 of their games finish with a combined total of 40-points or less, whereas the Panthers saw nine of their games finish with a total of 50-points or more. With the total for the Super Bowl hovering around the 45-point mark at most sportsbooks, the Panthers have gone OVER that number in 12 games this season, while the Broncos have gone UNDER that mark in 12 games.
This will be the eighth time the Broncos have played in the Super Bowl, and in each of their previous six appearances, the total went OVER. This year’s version of the team has been hitting the UNDER more often than not though, posting an O/U record of 6-10-2 and going UNDER in five of their last seven games.
High scoring games are nothing new for the Panthers, especially lately, as they’ve averaged 39.3 points per game over their last three contents. They haven’t needed much help going OVER the total in the three games, as their defense has held the opposition to an average of 16.3 points during that stretch. On the season they’ve posted a 12-6 O/U record, which includes going OVER in three of their last four road games.
We’ll continue to track the line and total movement as the game approaches and provide updates specific to those numbers.
Now that you know the facts, let us know who you’re leaning towards. Place your SU, ATS, and Total predictions in the comment section below.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Betting fans looking to side with the Denver Broncos in this one found them as 3.5-point underdogs earlier in the week at Sportsbook, while the total was sitting at 44.
Odds Shark computer score prediction models pick a possible 25-20 win for the Panthers on Sunday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NFL matchups here.
Carolina Panthers vs Denver Broncos Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
Betting fans of the Denver Broncos have seen them go 14-4 and 8-7-3 ATS so far this season, while the Carolina Panthers are at 17-1 and 13-5 ATS. In over under totals betting, the Carolina Panthers are 12-6, while the Denver Broncos are 6-10-2. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Denver vs Carolina injuries news.
The game pits the Denver Broncos, currently No. 8 in our Odds Shark NFL Power Rankings, against the Carolina Panthers, who rate No. 3 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Denver Broncos No. 18-ranked offense (22.11 PPG) against a Carolina Panthers defense that ranks No. 6 at 19.28 PPG. The Broncos passing attack has averaged 240.56 yards per game, more than the Panthers give up through the air (239 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Carolina Panthers own the league's No. 8-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 94.38 yards per game when on the road. Denver, on the other hand, rates No. 13 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
In Carolina's last outing, Cam Newton threw for 335 yards to lead the Panthers over Arizona 49-15 at Bank of America Stadium.
The Broncos's last action saw them get a 2-TD performance from Peyton Manning as they handed New England a 20-18 loss at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
- The Panthers are 7-1 SU in their last eight games on the road.
- The Panthers are 0-3 ATS in their last three games on the road.
- The total has gone OVER in the Panthers' last three games as favorites.
- The Broncos are 3-10 SU in their last 13 games as underdogs in January.
- The Broncos are 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three games against the NFC South division.
- The Broncos have scored over half of the posted total in four of their last five games.
- The favored team is 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in the last four games in this matchup.
- The total has gone OVER in the Panthers' last six games after an ATS win.
