The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reigned supreme in the NFC South, wearing the divisional crown for three straight seasons. The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints will look to end the streak, starting with a Week 1 showdown at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

With home-field advantage on their side, the Saints have an edge in the NFL Week 1 odds. New Orleans was 2-0 vs. Carolina in 2023, boasting a +25 point differential.

NFL Week 1 Panthers vs. Saints odds

New Orleans opened as 4.5-point favorites and the spread has since diminished to Saints -4. If you like the underdog in this matchup, you can wager on the Panthers to win outright at +170 with Caesars Sportsbook, while the Saints moneyline odds sit at -205.

Sportsbooks aren’t expecting offensive fireworks between the NFC South foes, as the over/under sits at 41.5.

Why New Orleans could win as the favorite

QB Derek Carr and the Saints’ offense is the key to success in Week 1 and beyond. Carr played well last season, but an increase in production would put the team in the hunt for a divisional title.

Look for Carr to feed NOLA’s top two playmakers, Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara, early and often against the Panthers. The Saints lack depth at WR, meaning a few timely gadget plays from Taysom Hill could go a long way in downing Carolina.

New Orleans has a strong secondary but lacked reliable pass rushing in 2023. The team added Chase Young in the offseason. Young hasn’t lived up to the expectations of a second-overall pick but can still cause chaos for the Panthers’ offense.

Why Carolina could win as the underdog

Coming off a season where Carolina had a league-worst two victories, there’s nowhere to go but up. The Panthers’ locker room is littered with fresh faces, including head coach Dave Canales, who was brought on to help Bryce Young return to the electrifying QB we saw at Alabama.

Young benefits from a beefed-up offensive line that should provide better protection than the unit that allowed the second-most sacks in the NFL in 2023. Carolina also added playmakers Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette and Jonathon Brooks. If the Panthers’ offense hits the ground running in Week 1, they’ll have a phenomenal shot at pulling off the upset.

Defensively, star edge rusher Brian Burns was dealt to the New York Giants and replaced by veteran Jadeveon Clowney. Carolina finished last in sacks and interceptions last year. Those numbers must improve to earn a win in the regular-season opener.

Best Panthers vs. Saints player prop bet

Adam Thielen to score a touchdown

Odds: +360 at BetMGM Sportsbook

Adam Thielen found the end zone only four times in 2023, his lowest touchdown total since 2017. However, it was easy for defenses to key on Thielen when the Panthers had few formidable pass catchers.

Add in the midseason firing of head coach Frank Reich, and it’s easy to see why the offense was disjointed. Carolina ranked as the lowest-scoring team in football, averaging a measly 14 points per game.

With Johnson and Legette in the mix, things should open up for Thielen in the red zone. Carolina’s improved offensive line should allow Young more time in the pocket to dissect the secondary.

The touchdowns may not have been there, but the Young-Thielen connection was strong last season. The pair connected for the 10th-most receptions in the NFL and 1,014 yards.