NFL Football
2009-11-19 - Miami Dolphins at Carolina Panthers
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Football: United States,
Thursday, 19th November 2009 - Kickoff 8:20pm ET
Season so Far
Carolina are 4-5 coming into this game and sit in 3rd spot in the NFC South behind the runaway leader New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta are still within range with their 5-4 record and Carolina will know a burst of wins will give them a good chance of picking up a Wild Card spot for the playoffs.
The win over Atlanta on Sunday pushed the Panthers back to 2-2 at home so far this season and pulled them back to within 1 game of the Wild Card picture in the NFC.
Carolina are 2-1 against teams with losing records so far this season and have begun to pick up a little bit of momentum over the last 3 weeks with good performances against Arizona, New Orleans and Atlanta.
Miami are also 4-5 this season, sitting in joint 2nd in the AFC East but they are beginning to lose touch with the leaders New England Patriots, finding themselves 2 games behind and having already lost to the Patriots once this season.
The Dolphins managed to scrape through a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week leaves them 2 games behind the teams currently occupying the Wild Card Spots in a loaded AFC.
Miami are 3-1 against teams with losing records so far this season. They are 1-1 on the road against teams with losing records.
Injury Updates
Carolina will be missing a key person for their running game with the loss of Jordan Gross. However DeAngelo Williams and Jordan Stewart have been very productive on the ground in recent weeks and will be hoping to open enough holes to allow the passing game to flourish.
A big loss for the Dolphins is Ronnie Brown, the key component in their Wildcat Formation and the starting running back. The story looks like being completed for Brown in terms of the 2009 season according to press reports. His absence means the veteran Ricky Williams will be the starter.
Head to Head
Carolina have not beaten Miami in a regular season game, going 0-3 so far. They have not met in Carolina in over 10 years.
Both teams are 4-5 against the spread so far this season.
Carolina are 1-3 at home against the spread, while Miami are 2-2 on the road.
A key thing to note, however, is that Carolina have won their last 3 games against the spread.
Prediction
Carolina are in the NFC, and this means that their 4-5 position is not the worst in the World, although they have a strong schedule coming up.
A win here would propel the Panthers well and truly back into the Wild Card fight, although winning the NFC South looks beyond them as they are 5 games behind New Orleans with 7 left to play.
Miami have lost their most important player and they are going to struggle in a tough AFC to pull themselves back into the playoffs following their success from last season.
The Dolphins have a weaker schedule than some of the teams around them, but will now have to rely on their 2nd string Quarter Back and Running back.
Carolina seem to be picking up momentum and I think I will favour them to come through this with the points taken off.
Miami are a solid team, but I can't see Miami putting up enough points to get close to Carolina here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Carolina Panthers 24-14 Miami Dolphins
