I liked the Panthers all the way through - til now! I think they hit the brick wall big time in this game. I strongly suspect that with T. Washington in the middle, timely run blitzes, and Coach Bill B's game planning that Carolina will be very ineffective running the ball. I believe NE's secondary will be able to match up 1 on 1 allowing the extra man in the box as well. I am not like some of the people on here who are baptizing the Patriots into a dynasty already and are just blind to the fact that Carolina is a pretty darn good team. I simply feel that many of the matchups favor NE; specifically, the Pats receiving corps resembles the look the Titans gave Carolina in the regular season where Carolina got killed. In short, the Carolina secondary is going to get burned Sunday. Carolina's inability to run effectively leaves Delhomme to beat you. He's had a nice run, but I am not thinking it continues as I think he looked a bit shaky in the Philly game with happy feet and the TD pass could easily have been a pick. I believe Delhomme is a true "game management" type of QB and view Brady as having much more big play ability even though people often describe him as a game manager. Further, I place somewhat less stock in the Philly win than maybe some of the other cappers' out there. Philly was depleted/slowed on defense by injuries and in general their defense had taken a big step backward in talent from the two previous NFC championship appearances. Also the Philly offense didn't have the tools (specifically solid WR's or their most dangerous back Westbrook and by the end of the game McNabb) to exploit Carolina at all which resulted in the 3 pts of offense. NE might be somewhat one dimesional in this game but believe that since they PASS to set up the RUN (exactly opposite of what Carolina does) that their offense is going to be more effective and will provide the necessary points to cover 7.
A lot of cappers on here have posted stuff about the squares being on the Patriots artificially driving up the line and thus providing value on the Panthers for the sharps. The public can be right sometime though!!! Perhaps the "sharp" play is to see that even though the line looks a little higher than may be desired that the Patriots can cover that number. People seem to think that 6.5 is such a HUGE number and that is HAS TO BE A BLOWOUT for the Pats to cover. That is a perception, but not a reality. If the Pats come with a solid but unspectacular 21-13 win, that's a Pats cover!
For the Record I have no opinion on the total as I think it is right in the fair range of where the total points may fall. I know several very "square" players, including one of the squarest and they all like Carolina. I think the ultimate deciding factor for almost every capper out there is "WILL CAROLINA BE ABLE TO RUN EFFECTIVELY?" As I outlined above, I think NO so my pick is New England.
A lot of cappers on here have posted stuff about the squares being on the Patriots artificially driving up the line and thus providing value on the Panthers for the sharps. The public can be right sometime though!!! Perhaps the "sharp" play is to see that even though the line looks a little higher than may be desired that the Patriots can cover that number. People seem to think that 6.5 is such a HUGE number and that is HAS TO BE A BLOWOUT for the Pats to cover. That is a perception, but not a reality. If the Pats come with a solid but unspectacular 21-13 win, that's a Pats cover!
For the Record I have no opinion on the total as I think it is right in the fair range of where the total points may fall. I know several very "square" players, including one of the squarest and they all like Carolina. I think the ultimate deciding factor for almost every capper out there is "WILL CAROLINA BE ABLE TO RUN EFFECTIVELY?" As I outlined above, I think NO so my pick is New England.
