Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions Picks, Odds, Predictions, and Player Props for SNF Week 4

We could have a fun matchup in store for Sunday Night Football. The Lions will head to Carolina to take on the Panthers in a matchup between two teams that have played in plenty of shootouts to start the year.

The Lions currently sit at 2-1, with their lone loss coming to the Bills. That said, it hasn’t been easy. They needed overtime to get past the Saints in Week 1, while the Jets took them to the limit in Week 3. Their offense has put plenty of points on the scoreboard, but their defense has given them all back: They’re currently dead last in the NFL in points allowed.

The Panthers got off to a wild start this season vs. the Bears, with the two teams combining for a whopping 96 points. Their defense has improved since then; they’re still in the bottom seven in both points and yards per game allowed. The good news is that their offense has shown massive improvement compared to last year, with Bryce Young posting career-best numbers basically across the board.

Can either defense get any stops in this matchup? Let’s break down all the betting numbers for Sunday Night Football.

Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions Betting Odds For Week 4

• Spread: Lions -3.5 (-112; DraftKings)
• Moneyline: Lions -180; Panthers +172
• Game Total: 50.5

The Lions having one of the top offenses in the league is no surprise. They’ve finished in the top five in yards and points in each of the past four seasons, and they could certainly do it again. They’re just seventh in offensive EPA so far this season, but they could move up a few spots before the end of the year.

Jahmyr Gibbs has looked unstoppable through the first three weeks. He’s finally been freed from a timeshare this season, and he’s responded with 463 scrimmage yards and an NFL-best six touchdowns. He also leads the league with 83 touches per game, but it hasn’t had a huge impact on his efficiency: he’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 7.4 yards per target.

After Gibbs, the Lions have an embarrassment of riches at pass-catcher. Amon-Ra St. Brown has solidified his status as one of the best receivers in football, while Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta are elite complementary pieces. Ultimately, it’s hard to imagine any defense having the ability to slow down everything this team can throw at them.

The Panthers have been the bigger shock. Young has shown flashes at times as a starter, but he’s done it on a more consistent basis so far this season. He was fantastic in the team’s first two games before hitting a speed bump last week vs. the Browns.

Unfortunately, Young could be without one of his top receivers in this matchup. Jalen Coker has emerged as a legit WR2 opposite Tetairoa McMillan, but he’s been a limited participant at practice this week. He’s already been battling through an ankle injury, and now he has a quad injury as well. Coker seems likely to play, but there’s no guarantee he’s as effective as usual.

The Panthers need all the firepower possible at receiver in this matchup. The Lions’ Achilles heel has been their pass defense this season. They’re dealing with a host of key absences in the secondary, and opposing QBs have been able to light them up through three weeks. Geno Smith completed 31-of-37 passes for more than 300 yards and three scores in Week 3, and he was someone that most people thought was cooked coming into this season.

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Prediction & Pick For Panthers vs. Lions Week 4 Matchup

• The Pick: Over 50.5

This pick is far from a shocker. The Lions have been an over machine through three weeks, with all three of their contests hitting at least 55 points. Until they prove they can stop anyone, they look like a slam-dunk Over squad.

The fact that the Panthers fit a similar profile is the cherry on top. Their defense has looked better in recent games, but that was against the Cooper Rush/Jack Strand Falcons and DeShaun Watson Browns. Doing it against the Lions and all their weapons  is an entirely different animal.

Detroit is going to get its points, so the real question is: Can the Panthers keep up? I think they should. They’ve been an above-average offense through three weeks, and before last week’s game, they scored 34+ points in back-to-back games. If they can get to 24 in this matchup, the Lions should get us the rest of the way home.

Best Player Prop Bet For Raiders vs. Chiefs

Chuba Hubbard Over 66.5 Rushing Yards (-112; DraftKings)

Hubbard’s workload this season was a bit of a question mark. The team talked up Jonathon Brooks all offseason, who they selected as the first RB in the 2024 NFL Draft. Brooks has been unable to stay healthy to start his NFL career, but there was a chance he emerged as the team’s lead back. At a minimum, he was expected to force a timeshare the same way that Rico Dowdle did last year.

You’ll never guess what happened next. The guy who can’t seem to stay healthy got hurt, leaving Hubbard as the team’s clear-cut RB1. He had 19 carries in his first game without Brooks, which he converted into 82 yards.

The Lions’ run defense hasn’t been nearly as poor as their pass defense, but this number still seems too low. Hubbard has averaged 4.5 yards per carry so far this season, so he doesn’t need a ton of opportunities to get to the over.