Will the Buffalo Bills come roaring back after their bye week, or are the sirens about to go off in Orchard Park?
NFL experts trying to predict the outcome of Sunday’s Bills vs. Carolina Panthers game are split this week. Some, like veteran Bills reporter Sal Maiorana, expect a Buffalo win. Others, like USA Today’s Jon Hoefling, think the Bills won’t be able to stop the Panthers’ running backs.
The Bills are 8-0 coming off the bye week since 2017 and quarterback Josh Allen is 7-0 in the first game back from the bye.
The spread for Bills vs. Panthers is currently 7.5 points, according to BetMGM. The money line for the Bills is -400 (Bet $400 to win $100) and +310 for the Falcons (Bet $100 to win $310). The over/under is 45.5 points.
Here’s a sampling of what NFL experts are predicting for the game:
Democrat and Chronicle: Bills 30, Panthers 20
Sal Maiorana writes: “The Bills are 8-0 following their bye week under McDermott which indicates that he does a very good job of getting his team back into work mode, a trend that needs to continue Sunday. The Bills really haven’t played a great game start-to-finish all season, unless you count their blowout over the pathetic Jets, so it’s about time that happened.
“Like Atlanta in Week 6, the Panthers are a tough team to get a handle on. They lost their first two games, then crushed by a 30-0 score the same Falcons who just beat the Bills. That was followed by a 42-13 decimation at the hands of the Patriots, but since then, three wins over the Dolphins, Cowboys and Jets. Buffalo is the better team in this game, and it should be able to prove that point. If it doesn’t, sirens are going to start blaring at One Bills Drive.”
Last Bills prediction: Bills 24, Falcons 20. Final score: Atlanta 24, Bills 14.
AZCentral: Bills 31, Panthers 23
Jeremy Cluff writes: “The Bills have dropped two straight, but had an off week to get ready for this game. Josh Allen and Buffalo will get right in Carolina.”
Last Bills prediction: Bills 30, Panthers 20.
USA Today: Six experts split evenly against the spread
Christopher Bumbaca writes: “I feel pretty good about the Bills off a bye and Andy Dalton on the other side. Panthers’ three-game winning streak is a nice run but must end eventually.”
Last Bills prediction: Six experts predict a Bills win
Dimers: Bills 26, Panthers 20
Dimers writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives the Bills a win probability of 73%.”
Last Bills prediction: Bills 27, Falcons 23
Sports Illustrated: Take +7.5 points with Panthers
Iain MacMillan writes: “Who let the Panthers get hot?
“Sure, it was against the Jets, Cowboys, and Dolphins, and the Falcons two weeks before that, but you can only play your schedule, and that’s what Carolina has done. But now with Buffalo coming to town, the Panthers party might come to an end.
“While the Bills should win this game, I’m going to take the Panthers plus the points. The Bills lost their last two games outright as -8 and -4 favorites, and have only covered as favorites once this season.
“I’ll take the Panthers to give the Bills a scare leading up to Halloween.”
Last Bills prediction: Take Falcons and the points.
yahoo! sports: Bills cover spread and take the over
Tom Oldfield says take the Bills: “The Buffalo Bills have had two weeks to digest back-to-back losses, while watching the New England Patriots surge to the top of the AFC East. If that doesn’t refocus the Buffalo locker room, nothing will.
“I see a backlash brewing here, and that starts with more offensive spark for the visitors. The Bills should have Dalton Kincaid back for this trip to Carolina, and it’s up to Allen to get more out of Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, who combined for only 44 receiving yards last time out.
“While the Carolina Panthers were sharp defensively against the winless Jets on Sunday, they’ve had trouble pressuring the quarterback this year, with just 11 sacks through seven contests. That spells trouble against Allen.
“This is no small number to lay on the road, but I’m riding with the Bills, especially given the Panthers’ quarterback uncertainty. Buffalo has covered the spread in its last four meetings with Carolina, and the visitors are 6-3 SU in their last nine outings.
“The Bills’ run defense — allowing 156.3 ypg — is the biggest red flag against a punishing Panthers run game, but Buffalo will have defensive linemen Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi available again here to address those struggles.
“Ultimately, though, this is a vote of confidence in Allen to put up eye-popping numbers and ensure his team doesn’t lose ground in a tight division race.”
Tom Oldfield says take the over: “I’m expecting big things from Allen here, coming off a bye week where offensive coordinator Joe Brady has surely been revamping the playbook.
“While Buffalo may eventually make a splash in the receiver trade market, there’s already enough talent on the roster to power an Over in Carolina on Sunday.
“The Bills scored 30+ points in each of their first four games this season before sputtering in their last two outings, and this feels like a get-right spot for the offense — with James Cook in line for an even bigger workload.
“Despite all the doom and gloom, Allen ranks just outside the Top 10 in completion rate this year, and only three teams are averaging more than Buffalo’s 27.8 ppg.
“Swapping out Young for Andy Dalton would likely cause a little disruption for the Panthers, but it’s not as if they’ve been slinging the ball all over the field.
“Young has thrown for fewer than 200 passing yards in his last five games, yet the offense still put up 30 points against the Dallas Cowboys and 27 points against the Miami Dolphins. In short, Dalton is qualified to keep the ship afloat.
“The Over is 7-3 in Carolina’s past 10 contests, and this is the lowest O/U line for the Bills since Week 2. I see both offenses showing up on Sunday and nailing this pick.”
— Bill Wolcott is a producer who helps cover the Buffalo Bills, high school and Rochester sports in general. The lifelong New Yorker has been a journalist for 31 years.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs. Panthers predictions show huge division among NFL experts. Here’s what they say
Reporting by Bill Wolcott, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
