In a season that’s make or break for Bryce Young, the pressure is on the Carolina Panthers to turn things around early. After a disastrous 2023 campaign, finishing 2-15 SU and 4-11-2 against the spread, the Panthers are looking to bounce back in a big way.
According to Jason Logan, the Panthers were “a blackhole for bankrolls” last season, but as the saying goes, sometimes bad teams make for good bets. With the market swinging so drastically, there is potential for the Panthers to cover spreads and surprise some people.
Despite low expectations and unfavorable futures odds, new head coach Dave Canales is looking to lead the team in a different direction. The Panthers are underdogs in every game this season, with an average spread of +4. While the odds may be stacked against them, there is optimism surrounding the team’s potential.
The schedule offers some winnable matchups in the first three months of the season, giving hope to fans that the Panthers can start strong. However, with six of the first 10 games on the road, including a trip to Germany in Week 10, the road to success won’t be easy.
The Panthers are banking on their defense to step up this season, with defensive coordinator Eijiro Evero returning for a second year. Despite losing key players in the offseason, the defense will need to hold strong against a mix of mediocre quarterbacks and rookies in the early part of the season.
If the Panthers can’t find success early on, there could be trouble ahead as they face a tough home stretch against playoff contenders. It’s a make or break season for Carolina, and the pressure is on to perform. As the market perception of the team remains low, the Panthers have the opportunity to defy expectations and surprise the league.
