The excitement is building for NFL betting in Tennessee, with one matchup to check out is the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons as they square off in the opener of their season. Both teams are looking to kick off the year with a bang and improve from last season’s woes.

When: September 10, 2023 at 1:00 PM ET

Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia

Carolina Panthers Preview

The Panthers did not record a single victory in any of their three preseason games. Their most recent battle was a 26-17 defeat against the Detroit Lions. They lost for the second time in a row by a margin of less then 10 points.

Looking back at 2022, the Panthers finished in a three-way tie for second in the NFC South along with the Falcons. Keep in mind that they all had a 7-10 record, with the leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers finishing with 8-9 to win the division.

Their success on the field, as well as the Falcons, will be determined by how well their quarterbacks play. A lot of pressure will be on Bryce Young, the number one pick in this year’s draft.

Their offense was subpar last year and they are hoping with the addition of Young that they can be more productive. They had a total of 35 touchdowns last year, with 16 of them coming from passing.

Atlanta Falcons Preview

The Falcons finished off their preseason with a 26-0 shutout defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They went 1-1-1 after three games, but they did not show much signs of improvement compared to last year.

They capped off their 2022 season with a two-game win streak, with their final game being a victory against the leading Buccaneers in the division, so things were somewhat turning around as they were heading into the offseason. This is a slightly different looking Falcons team from the start of last season, as Desmond Ridder will command the start.

Ridder only had four games to work with last year and averaged 177 yards a game with two touchdowns. He has now earned the official start for this year and is more confident. They had 38 total touchdowns last season and 17 of them were from passing.

They added a handful of additions to their roster, just like the Panthers. Indeed, a lot of new faces will be competing and make a huge impact compared to last season’s results, so anything could happen.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook gives you the best opportunity to bet on the NFL in Tennessee for this matchup. The odds reveal that the Falcons are becoming moderate favorites to win in the opening week.

Carolina Panthers: +170

Spread: +3.5 (-108)

Atlanta Falcons: -180

Spread: -3.5 (-108)

Totals: Over 40 (-108), Under 40 (-108)

Both teams met each other twice last year, with each team winning once. The Falcons averaged 26 points against the Panthers, but the Panthers averaged 29.5 in their matchups.

Photo Credit: © Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports