The 2021 NFL season began with such promise for both the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills. Following a 3-0 start, the Panthers have gone 2-8 to sit at 5-8 on the season. The Bills have lost four of their last six games. At 7-6, the Bills, a Super Bowl favorite of many in NFL betting, are in a five-way tie for the second and final AFC wild-card playoff spot.

Oddsmakers are anticipating a big bounce back week from Buffalo at home against Carolina. The Bills are 10.5-point favorites over the Panthers on Sunday. Here all you need to know about this matchup when making your NFL picks.

Take a look at Panthers vs Bills odds, injury report, betting lines and more.

CHECK OUT: Bills fans, here are the latest New York sports betting updates for when online betting will launch in the Empire State.

Panthers vs Bills Key Matchups

Who’s At QB? Bills QB Josh Allen left the stadium following Sunday’s 33-27 OT loss to Tampa Bay with his foot in a walking boot. He’s list as day-to-day and an uncertain starter for Sunday. Carolina alternated between Cam Newton and P.J. Walker in a 29-21 loss to Atlanta. A pick-6 by Newton was the turning point in the game. Still, coach Matt Rhule insists Newton remains his starter.

Which Pass Defense Will Dominate? The Panthers are the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL, allowing 177.7 yards per game. Right behind them in the No. 2 slot are the Bills (179.5 ypg). Buffalo has allowed an NFL-low 10 TD passes.

Plenty Of QB Pressure: The Bills get after the quarterback better than any NFL team. They pressure the QB 27.6% of the time. In second place in this category are the Panthers at 26.8%. Whoever causes the most mayhem in the other team’s backfield could turn the game in their team’s favor.

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5 Key Panthers vs Bills Stats

11: Consecutive starts lost for the Panthers by QB Cam Newton.

90 Rushing yards by Bills QB Allen against the Buccaneers. He’s the first Buffalo player to gain that much yardage on the ground since Week 12 of the 2019 season.

0-18 The Panthers record since the start of the 2020 season when allowing 22 or more points. Only Jacksonville (0-24) has a worse record in this scenario in that time frame.

29 Career rushing TDs by Allen. The only QB with more during his first four NFL seasons? Newton, with 33.

3-15 Newton’s record since 2018 when he throws 1+ interception.

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Panthers vs Bills Weather Forecast

Carolina’s last three road games were at Miami, Arizona and under the dome in Atlanta. Outdoors in Buffalo in December could prove to be a shock to the Panthers’ system. Sunday’s forecast is actually relatively balmy for Buffalo a week before Christmas. It’s going to be 32 degrees, cloudy with sunny periods and just 10 mph wind.

Panthers vs Bills Player Props

Bills TE Dawson Knox under 40.5 receiving yards

Odds: -114 at FanDuel

Knox has gone over this total just twice in his last six games.

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Chuba Hubbard under 42.5 rushing yards

Odds: -115 at Caesars Sportsbook

Hubbard has accumulated a grand total of 69 yards on the ground over his last six games.

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Bills QB Josh Allen over 0.5 interceptions

Odds: +112 at FanDuel

Allen has been picked off eight times over his last six games and in five of the past six games.

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Panthers vs Bills Moneyline

Buffalo is a whopping -500 favorite at NFL betting apps in the moneyline. In seven games against the Bills, Carolina is 2-5 straight up. At Buffalo, the Panthers are 1-3 SU. The Bills have lost their last two home games by a combined margin of 55-25. Carolina is 1-3 in its last four road games.

However, that one win was a shocking 34-10 rout at AFC West leaders the Arizona Cardinals. Buffalo is 10-3 SU in its last 13 home games. But you can’t bet the Bills at -500. The risk is simply not worth the return. Take a pass on this wager.

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Panthers vs Bills Point Spread

This is the first time all season that sportsbooks are offering the Panthers as a double-digit point underdog in the NFL spreads. They are 1-1 against the spread the last two times they’ve found themselves facing such long odds.

Meanwhile, it’s the fifth time in 14 games this season that Buffalo is set as a double-digit point favorite. So far, the Bills are 2-1-1 ATS in that scenario. They are 1-0-1 at home. Normally, 10.5 points would be a big ask. However, Carolina’s last three road losses were suffered by an average of 17 points per game. Lay the points and go with the Bills.

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Panthers vs Bills Totals

These are two of the toughest defenses to score against in the NFL, which would explain why the total for this game at betting sites opened at 43.5 points.

Buffalo is the NFL’s No. 3 scoring defense, allowing 17.6 points game. Carolina is surrendering 21.7 points per game. That’s eighth in the NFL. Both teams are 6-7 on the total this season. The Bills have gone under in four of six home games this season. The total has gone over in four of Carolina’s last five games. In seven all-time games between the two teams, the over holds a 4-3 edge. Look for the Bills to dominate this game. Take the Over.

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