PickSix112

Panthers – Eagles

Thursday Night Football, and I am licking my chops at the thought of being on the hot team, with an extremely hot offense. You got that right, the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers and their former MVP quarterback Cam Newton got off to a sort of a shaky start, but the last 2 weeks, they have looked incredible. Cam has looked like the Cam that we all loved to watch in 2015, and I don’t think the Eagles stand a chance of slowing him and this offense down. I understand that the Eagles boast one of the best offenses in the league, but my question to you is… who have they played. Yes they’re 4-1 but the 4 teams that they have beat have a combined record of 3-12. They beat the 1-4 Chargers by 2, and the winless Giants by 3. All while getting torched through the air. The Eagles are ranked 29th in the league at pass yards allowed through 5 games, and tonight Cam Newton and his big physical receivers will dominate this matchup.

The most important position in football is the quarterback position, and in this game we will be backing the better quarterback. Cam Newton has been phenomenal in his last 2 games, throwing for 671 yards and 6 touchdowns, while compiling a 137.2 passer rating. The Panthers offensive line has played great as well, largely due to the type of offense the Panthers play. Cam gets the ball out quick on slants and underneath throws, which is perfect for this game against a team like the Eagles who run a zone scheme the majority of their defensive snaps. Not only will they beat the Eagles on underneath throws, but they will kill them in long yardage passing plays as well. Like I previously stated, the Eagles pass defense is thin, but get this, over the last 2 weeks Cam Newton is 14-18 for 388 yards and 4 TD’s on passing thrown 10 yards or more. Cam Newton this and Cam Newton that.. ok you get it.. but Cam is not the only weapon on this offense. Their receivers are huge, Devin Funchess, Kelvin Benjamin and TE Ed Dickson create big targets for Cam Newton and big play potential on play action after we set up this defense with a heavy dosage of Jonathon Stewart and Christian McCaffrey. Speaking of McCaffrey, I expect him to have a break out game in open field as he is matched up with the Eagles linebackers, because Dickson will draw coverage of the safeties. 

As much as I’ve raved about this offense and Cam Newton being the most important player on the field, there's a great argument that a man named LUKE KUECHLY could create for title of most important player on the field. Luke is the QB of the defense and he is the BEST linebacker in the NFL. On the other side of the ball he will match wits against 2nd year QB Carson Wentz who is 3-8 on the road in his young career. Sorry to break it to ya Eagles backers, but Carson and this offense doesn't stand a chance against Luke and this defense. Ertz…. No sir.. He’ll be matched up against what could be the most athletic linebacking corp in the league, in Kuechly, Davis, and Shaw Thompson. They rank 3rd in total yardage, giving up a mere 274 yards per game, 5th in passing yards, and 6th in rush yards per game. They also rank in the top 10 in points allowed per game. Carolina also ranks 3rd in defensive stop rate. This defense can play! I expect them to get stops in crucial situations and get to the quarterback a lot as they stick with a nasty zone blitz scheme, that DE Julius Peppers has thrived in, pressuring the QB 16% of the time. Which is better than Von Miller and Khalil Mack. They’ll get to Wentz and possible force a couple of turnovers.

PANTHERS -3 

Anadolu Efes Instabul +5.5

TIP OFF: 1 EST

Games like this, I wouldn't normally share with anyone, but the value in this game is incredible. We have a much stronger backcourt, and just like football, your primary ball handler is the most important player on the team. This team was mediocre at best last season, but this seasons roster is better than last year. I expect them to compete for the Euroleague championship. They've added NBA star CJ McCollum's brother Errick, who in my opinion should be on a NBA roster himself. The guy can flat out get a bucket, a couple years back he scored 82 points in a game while playing professionally in China. McCollum averaged 37.5 ppg last year in the Chinese League. Although the competition isn't as steep as Euroleague comp, that's still very impressive. The last time he played in the Euroleague was 2 years ago, when he averaged 18 ppg on 49.7% shooting and 35% from three. He is joined by former Mountain West Conference player of the year Josh Adams. Adams was incredible in college in his 4 year career at Wyoming, averaging 24 ppg his senior year. He has the ability to shoot from the 3 and get to the rim at will. These 2 guys are impressive but their best player is former NBA journeyman Ricky Ledo. Ledo is 6'7 and has incredible athleticism. You combine that with his sweet shooting stroke and you get the 21 points per game he averaged in the Turkish League.

Real Madrid is no joke, but unfortunately for them they lost their best player and league MVP Sergio Lull to a season ending torn ACL injury a couple of weeks ago. They did bring in teen sensation, Luka Doncic, who alongside Goran Dragic helped lead Slovenia to a Eurobasket championship this summer. Doncic can play but overall this team will be overmatched by the skill of Anadolu Efes Instabul's guard play, and completely overpowered by the large front line that Anadolu brings to the table!