Carolina Panthers (4-2) +3, o/u 44 at Cincinnati Bengals (3-2), 1 p.m. Eastern Sunday, Fox regional
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The Carolina Panthers look to extend a four-game winning streak when they tangle with the Cincinnati Bengals, losers of two in a row, Sunday afternoon in the Queen City.
Carolina lost its first two games of this season while great WR Steve Smith sat out with a hamstring injury. The Panthers scored 19 points in those two games. But since Smith returned to the lineup, Carolina has won four games in a row and averaged 22.5 points per game.
The Panthers occupy 2nd place in the NFC South, and are just one game back of the division-leading New Orleans Saints.
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Cincinnati began its season by winning its first three games. But the Bengals have lost their last two, scoring just 26 points total vs. New England and Tampa Bay.
Cincy sits in 2nd place in the AFC North, a half-game back of the division-leading Baltimore Ravens.
The Bengals kind of got robbed last week, thanks to an absolutely terrible call on a roughing-the-passer penalty that led to the game-winning touchdown for the Buccaneers with under a minute remaining in the game. But Tampa did soundly outrush Cincinnati 126-53.
These two teams haven’t met since Carolina outscored the Bengals 52-31 four seasons ago.
On the season, the Panthers are getting outrushed by a 115-103 yards per game average. But that stat is a bit skewed; Carolina gave up 252 rushing yards to the Atlanta Falcons in a season-opening 20-6 home loss. But since that, the Panthers have allowed an average of less than 90 yards rushing PG.
Carolina also ranks just 22nd in the league in average time-of-possession at 29:30 and dead last in 3rd-down conversion rate at 24%.
Panther QB Jake Delhomme is hitting at a 59% completion rate and owns a 7/3 TD/INT ratio and a 83.0 passing rating.
Cincinnati is getting outrushed by a per-game average of 140-97. The Bengals also rank 5th-worst in the league in time-of-possession at 27:51 and 7th-worst with a 32% 3rd-down conversion rate.
And to top that off, Cincy is without two regular starters on the offensive line.
Bengals QB Carson Palmer is hitting at a 63% completion rate and owns both an 11/4 TD/INT ratio and a 98.9 passing rating.
Carolina has been a pretty good road bet in recent seasons, going 10-6 straight up and 13-3 against the spread away from home in 2004 and ’05. The Panthers are 2-1 SU and 1-2 ATS on the road this season.
Cincinnati went 5-3 straight up but just 2-6 vs. the number in home games last season. The Bengals are 1-1 both SU and ATS at home this season.
Carolina and Cincinnati have played two common opponents thus far this season. The Panthers beat Cleveland 20-12 as eight-point home chalk two weeks ago, while the Bengals beat the Browns 34-17 as 10-point home favorites in Week 3. Also, Carolina beat Tampa Bay 26-24 as three-point road favorites in Week 3, while, as mentioned above, the Bucs beat Cincy 14-13 last week.
The over/under is 2-4 in Panthers games this season, 3-2 in Bengals games.
The Sagarin PREDICTOR ratings at USAToday.com rank Cincinnati 6th at 25.9, Carolina 12th at 21.2.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: If we had to make a call on this one, we'd take Carolina plus the points. Truth be told, this game features very little wagering value. | 
