Panthers vs. Packers Prediction: 3 NFL Picks, Player Prop Bets for TNF

Packers vs Panthers TNF Best Bets at a Glance

• Packers -3.5 (-114)
• Josh Jacobs Over 58.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
• Bryce Young Under 256.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Thursday Night Football features an NFC matchup between the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers, with both teams looking to bounce back from losses in Week 7.

Green Bay enters Thursday as a 3.5-point home favorite — per FanDuel Sportsbook’s NFL odds — while the game carries a 47.5-point total. There are also some intriguing NFL player props on the board, particularly when looking at Green Bay's rushing matchup and Carolina's passing game.

Here are my three favorite bets for Panthers-Packers on Thursday night.

All NFL projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

Packers vs Panthers Picks, Prediction: Thursday Night Football

Packers -3.5 (-114)

The Green Bay Packers haven't exactly been dominant this season, but this looks like a good bounce-back spot at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay is coming off a narrow 20-17 road loss to Detroit, yet its defense has generally done a good job of creating negative plays. The Packers have generated nine interceptions through seven games, tied for the most in the NFL, while the Pack have posted a +5 turnover differential.

That could be especially important against a Carolina Panthers offense that had major protection issues last week. Carolina surrendered five sacks while its quarterback was pressured on more than half of his dropbacks in a 43-13 loss to Tampa Bay.

While the Packers have some O-Line concerns of their own, I like the Packers to take advantage of Carolina's offensive-line issues and cover as 3.5-point favorites.

Josh Jacobs Over 58.5 Rushing Yards (-114)

Josh Jacobs returned to action against Detroit last week and finished with 36 rushing yards on 11 carries. That workload wasn't enough to get him near this number, but the matchup is significantly better this time around.

Carolina has allowed 153.2 rushing yards per game, the most in the league entering Week 8. The Panthers have also surrendered 11 rushing touchdowns, so opposing offenses have had very little reason to abandon the ground game versus Carolina.

A home-favorite game script should help Jacobs, as well. If Green Bay can play from ahead, there should be an opportunity for his carry total to climb well beyond the 11 attempts he handled last week.

Although Green Bay’s offensive line is banged up and struggling, Jacobs gave the Packers’ run game a little spark a week ago, and I think he can post good numbers in this matchup.

Bryce Young Under 256.5 Passing Yards (-114)

Bryce Young is averaging 285.3 passing yards per game this season, so taking the under on a 256.5-yard line might initially look uncomfortable. The matchup gives me enough reason to fade the season-long average.

Green Bay has allowed only 208.0 passing yards per game, and its ability to create pressure without sending extra rushers could cause problems for Carolina.

Young has been pressured on 44.3% of his dropbacks against four or fewer pass rushers this season, the highest rate among qualified quarterbacks. Green Bay, meanwhile, has generated pressure on 38.5% of dropbacks without blitzing, the fourth-highest rate in the league.

That allows the Packers to devote more defenders to coverage while still disrupting the quarterback, and they've turned that formula into a league-high nine interceptions.

Young managed only 163 passing yards last week despite Carolina playing from behind for most of a blowout loss. With Green Bay presenting a much tougher pressure-and-coverage combination along with this game being on the road, I'm backing Young to stay below 256.5 passing yards.

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NFL Betting Frequently Asked Questions

What is an NFL point spread?

A point spread is designed to level the playing field between two teams. Favorites must win by more than the spread, while underdogs can either win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.

What is an NFL moneyline bet?

A moneyline bet is simply picking which team will win the game. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds.

What are NFL player props?

Player prop bets focus on an individual player's performance, such as passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, or receptions, rather than the outcome of the game.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.