Football Betting – Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers

Football betting has the San Diego Chargers favored in NFL Odds Week 1 action against the Carolina Panthers. The Chargers are considered one of the favorites in the AFC and have been extremely tough at home. The Chargers are led by running back LaDainian Tomlinson and quarterback Phillip Rivers. The Chargers are a 9 point NFL betting favorite with a total of 42.5.

Football stats show that the Chargers were 7-1 against the spread last season at home. The Panthers have traditionally been an excellent underdog in NFL betting, so this could be an interesting matchup. The key could be whether or not the Carolina defense can slow down Tomlinson. Another key for the Carolina defense according to football betting experts will be to stop tight end Antonio Gates. Carolina has traditionally had a very difficult time containing tight ends according to football betting information.

On the other side of the betting equation in this game is the Carolina offense against the San Diego defense. What will hurt Carolina in this game according to betting information is that star wide receiver Steve Smith will be out, as he is serving the first game of a two game suspension according to football information. Somewhat evening that out according to NFL betting experts will be the absence of San Diego star linebacker Shawne Merriman. San Diego has not looked as strong at linebacker without Merriman and that could open the field for running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Getting quarterback Jake Delhomme back this season will also help Carolina according to football betting experts. He will have to avoid cornerback Antonio Cromartie who led the NFL with 10 interceptions last season according to betting stats.

NFL betting stats show that the Panthers were 5-3 last season against the football betting pointspread on the road. They were 4-3 as an away underdog according to betting stats. The two teams have met only once since 2001 and the Chargers won at Carolina by a score of 17-6 in 2004 according to football betting stats.