The Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills will face off in Week 1 of the NFL preseason this afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York. The game will be broadcast live on NFL+.
The Bills are currently trading at -3.5 at Kalshi, with the over/under set at 38.5 (50¢ over / 51¢ under). Buffalo is priced at 62¢ to win outright, while Carolina is 39¢ to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Panthers vs Bills predictions and NFL picks for Saturday, August 15.
Panthers vs Bills Predictions, Picks
- Panthers vs Bills trade: Over 38.5 (51¢)
My Bills vs. Panthers prediction is on the game to go over 38.5 total points, which is priced at 51 cents at Kalshi.
Panthers vs Bills Odds
Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills Preview
Panthers Preview
The Panthers are going to play their starters for roughly 10-20 snaps, according to head coach Dave Canales.
That means we'll see Bryce Young get a chance to show what he can do with top wideouts Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker. With Kenny Pickett taking over after Young, the Panthers have the quarterback depth you want to see when targeting a preseason game.
What's most intriguing is that we're going to get a chance to see Jonathon Brooks. This was a touted running back prospect coming out of the draft, but he's dealt with several injuries over his first two seasons.
On defense, the Panthers will give a couple of series to standouts like Derrick Brown, Jaelan Phillips, and more.
Bills Preview
Like the Panthers, the Bills are expected to play their starters for a couple of series in this game. This means that we'll have a chance to see Josh Allen with his new top wideout, DJ Moore.
The Bills also have a backup quarterback with starting experience in Kyle Allen, along with one of the NFL's best No. 2 running backs, Ray Davis.
Add in the fact that this team has a lot of depth in pass-catchers with Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Dalton Kincaid, and Dawson Knox. That means that there's a lot to like about the Bills' chances of putting up points in this one.
Panthers vs Bills Pick, Analysis
I'm going with Over 38.5 in this preseason matchup between the Panthers and Bills. With both teams playing their starters for a couple of series, we could see a lot of points, at least in the first half.
I also like that each side has backup quarterbacks with starting experience in Kenny Pickett and Kyle Allen.
All that we need is a 23-17 result to hit this Over. At 51 cents, the price looks right to buy into this one. This isn't your typical Week 1 preseason game where starters are mostly resting.
Trade: Over 38.5 (51¢)
