Saints vs Panthers prediction, odds, line, spread, time: 2024 NFL picks, Week 1 best bets from computer model

The New Orleans Saints look to open the 2024 season 1-0 as they host NFC South Division rival, the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. The Saints tied for the division lead at 9-8 last season but lost the tiebreaker to the Buccaneers and narrowly missed the playoffs. The Panthers were a league-worst 2-15 and start a new era with head coach Dave Canales. New Orleans won both meetings last season: 20-17 and 28-6. 

Kickoff from the Caesars Superdome is set for 1:00 p.m. ET. New Orleans is a 4-point favorite in the latest Panthers vs. Saints odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points is 41.5. Before making any Saints vs. Panthers picks of your own, you need to see the NFL predictions and betting advice from the computer simulation model at SportsLine.

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season on an incredible 181-129 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. It is also on a 35-21 roll on top-rated NFL picks since Week 7 of 2022.

The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick’em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up.

Now, the model has set its sights on Saints vs. Panthers and just locked in its picks and NFL Week 1 predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NFL odds and betting lines for Saints vs. Panthers:

• Saints vs. Panthers spread: Saints -4
• Saints vs. Panthers over/under: 41.5 points
• Saints vs. Panthers money line: Saints -202, Panthers +167
• Saints vs. Panthers picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why the Panthers can cover

Dave Canales takes over the reigns in Carolina and looks to help Bryce Young take a step forward in Year 2 of his NFL career. As a rookie, Young struggled mightily, throwing for only 2,877 yards in 16 games, will 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He must improve his sub-60% completion rate for Carolina to succeed in 2024.

Young has a few new wide receivers at his disposal: former Steeler Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette. Johnson is a steady slot receiver who posted a career high 1,161 yards in 2021 for Pittsburgh. Legette is a 6-foot-3 rookie from South Carolina who the Panthers took with the last pick of the first round in April’s NFL Draft. If Young can succeed against a tough New Orleans defense, Carolina may turn some heads and potentially upset the Saints. See which team to pick here.

Why the Saints can cover

New Orleans won nine games last year and returns the key pieces of their offense: quarterback Derek Carr, running back Alvin Kamara, and wide receiver Chris Olave. Despite various injuries last season, Carr started all 17 games, passing for more than 3,800 yards and 25 touchdowns. He was successful in his first year as New Orleans’ QB and has now thrown for more than 3,500 yards in all but two of his ten seasons (and one was 3,496).

Kamara missed four games due to suspension but combined for more than 1,100 rushing/receiving yards and scored six touchdowns. He should be effective on the ground or as a check down in the passing game for Carr. Olave has topped the 1,000 yard mark in both of his NFL seasons, but led the league in unrealized yards, catching only 87 of 138 targets. With more chemistry developing between him and Carr, the Saints’ top WR should flourish in his third season. See which team to pick here.

How to make Saints vs. Panthers picks

The model has simulated Carolina vs. New Orleans 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Over on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time. You can only see the model’s Saints vs. Panthers pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Carolina vs. New Orleans on Sunday, and which side of the spread hits nearly 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the Saints vs. Panthers spread you should be all over Sunday, all from the model on a 181-129 roll on its top-rated NFL picks, and find out.