In the Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills preseason game, the best betting sites favor the latter by 2.5 points. Hmm. Panthers versus Bills. Or should that be Cam Newton vs. Kelvin Benjamin? Obviously they won’t be coinciding on the field. Especially if neither plays, which is very likely. However, that doesn’t preclude Benji from starting a war of words. Or at least trying to start one. “I mean, I felt like I would’ve been even more successful if … I don’t know, man … If I would’ve … Looking back on it, I should’ve just been drafted by somebody else,” the Kelvinator said. “I should’ve never went [sic] to Carolina. Truly, I just think Carolina was bad for me. It was a bad fit from the get-go.” And it gets more personal.
“If you would’ve put me with any other quarterback, let’s be real, you know what I’m saying? Any other accurate quarterback like Rodgers or Eli Manning or Big Ben — anybody! — quarterbacks with knowledge, that know how to place a ball and give you a better chance to catch the ball. It just felt like I wasn’t in that position,” he added. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Betting Carolina
Cammie may not be the best quarterback ever, only instead of “may not be,” read “isn’t.” However, he is the best QB the Panthers have. As such, he probably won’t play and definitely won’t start against the Bills. Which is all well and good as far as Garrett Gilbert and Taylor Heinicke are concerned. With Derek Anderson gone, Gilbert and Heinicke are competing for the backup spot. According to head coach Ron Rivera, Gilbert will start the game and get some reps with the first team. Heinicke would be, barring any unforeseen event, the third quarterback for this game. Meaning that Kyle Allen would presumably play in between.
Gilbert has been for a cup of coffee with the Rams, Patriots, Lions, and Raiders. And believe it or not, he is a Super Bowl-winning QB. No, really. He was on the practice squad when the Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX. Not so lucky was Heinicke, whom the Pats released on October 9, 2017. He has also been briefly with the Vikings and Texans.
Betting Buffalo
Like Newton, Benjamin has a guaranteed spot in the Bills starting lineup. So on Thursday we may see Zay Jones and Corey Coleman doing their damndest to secure one for themselves. Other wide receiver hopefuls are Andre Holmes, Brandon Reilly, Malachi Dupre and Rod Streater. Elsewhere, veteran Phillip Gaines and rookie Taron Johnson compete to take the place of slot corner Leonard Johnson. Starting running back LeSean McCoy might experience a case of the Ezekiel Elliotts this season. That would be extra motivation for Chris Ivory and Keith Ford. And last but not least, we have the Bills “co-starting” QBs AJ McCarron a Nathan Peterman. The best betting sites adapt their lines even while a game is going on. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Panthers became instant favorites every second Peterman is on the gridiron.
Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills Sportsbook Odds and Info
- Date: August 9
- Time: 7:00 pm EDT
- Venue: New Era Field
- Best online sportsbooks odds from MyBookie.ag:
- Carolina Panthers +2½ +100 o +125 o Ov 34 -116
- Buffalo Bills -2½ -120 o -145 o Un 34 -104
Best betting sites trends:
- The Panthers are 3-2 SU in their last five games.
- The Panthers are 3-2 ATS in their last five games.
- The total has gone over in six of the Panthers last eight games.
- The Bills are 3-2 SU in their last five games.
- The Bills are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
- The total has gone under in five of the Bills’ last seven games.
