Panthers +115 2% play

First place in the NFC South is on the line between two 3-5 clubs, and late-game execution pillars heavily favor the road team. Carolina ranks sixth in the NFL in red-zone touchdown efficiency, eighth in offensive ball security, and eighth on special teams, led by Bryce Young (2,197 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions) and Chuba Hubbard (619 rushing yards, five touchdowns). Both match up well against a Saints defense ranked 28th in home pass defense (249.8 yards per game allowed) and dead last defending running backs on the ground.

New Orleans is 0-5 against the spread over its last five home games and enters severely compromised up front after ruling out Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy and starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga. Asking rookie quarterback Tyler Shoughâ€"who carries a 4.0% turnover-worthy play rateâ€"to navigate interior pressure behind backup linemen makes laying juice with the hosts a poor proposition in a coin-flip divisional game.