The first of three clashes between division leaders opens the NFL Week 6 schedule as the Carolina Panthers play host to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday as 3.5-point favourites on the NFL odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Carolina returns home after recording upset victories at New England and Detroit to claim top spot in the NFC South standings going into Thursday night’s Eagles vs. Panthers betting matchup at Bank of America Stadium.
The 4-1 Panthers averaged 30 points per game during their recent two-game road trip, capped by a 27-24 win over the Lions as 2-point underdogs, and have seen the point total go OVER at the sportsbooks in three straight contests.
However, the Panthers have averaged just 12.7 points per game over their past three dates at Bank of America Stadium, and have also been a consistently shaky bet during a 2-5-2 against-the-spread run.
Three straight victories have the 4-1 Eagles at the top of the NFC East standings. Philadelphia is coming off a convincing 34-7 win over Arizona as 6-point home chalk, and has won SU and ATS in two of three road contests, ending a dismal seven-game SU slide. However, the Eagles have dropped two of three to the Panthers, including a 27-16 loss as 3-point underdogs in their last visit to Charlotte two years ago.
Late on Sunday afternoon, a pair of surprising division leaders battle as the Los Angeles Rams visit Jacksonville as 2.5-point underdogs.
The Rams have powered to a 3-2 SU start on the strength of the NFL’s second-ranked offence, which has averaged 30.4 points per game. But the Los Angeles attack was silenced in last week’s 16-10 loss at Seattle as 2.5-point road chalk, leaving the Rams deadlocked with the Seahawks atop the NFC West.
The 3-2 Jaguars climbed atop the AFC North standings with last Sunday’s shocking 30-9 upset win in Pittsburgh as 7.5-point road underdogs, but still must overcome a three-game outright losing streak while favoured at home.
Knotted in a tie for first in the AFC North with Baltimore following last week’s loss, the Steelers visit undefeated Kansas City as 5-point underdogs. Pittsburgh has averaged just 20.5 points per game during a mediocre 2-2 SU road run, while the 5-0 Chiefs look to avenge an 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh as 2.5-point home chalk in last season’s AFC divisional playoffs.
In other NFL Week 6 action, a battle for first place in the AFC East has the New England Patriots visiting the New York Jets as 9.5-point chalk, while the Minnesota Vikings try to pull even with first-place Green Bay when they host the Packers as 3-point underdogs in an NFC North matchup.
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