The Carolina Panthers will travel to Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan this week as they take on the Detroit Lions in a NFL Sunday Matchup. 

The Carolina Panthers are still looking for their first win this season and have been one of the lowest-scoring teams in the NFL this season while the Detroit Lions are in 1^st place in the NFC North after winning three of their first four games. Will the Panthers keep the game closer than expected or will the Lions win in a rout on Sunday afternoon in week 5 of the NFL season? Let’s take a look at how these teams have fared this season.

The Carolina Panthers enter this game with a record of 0-4 which includes a 13-21 loss at home against the Minnesota Vikings while failing to cover the 4-point spread as a home underdog in week 4 of the NFL season. Carolina scored 13 points while compiling a total of 232 yards offensively which included 204 passing yards and 83 rushing yards while allowing 21 points and 265 total yards defensively which included 139 passing yards and 135 rushing yards. Bryce Young led the team in passing, completing 25 of 32 attempts for 204 yards while rushing for 10 yards. Chuba Hubbard led the team in rushing with 14 carries for 41 yards while adding two receptions for 12 yards. Adam Thielen led the team in receiving, catching seven of eight targets for 76 yards.

Detroit enters this game with a record of 3-1 following a 34-20 win on the road against the Green Bay Packers while covering the 2.5-point spread as a road favorite in week 4 of the NFL season. The Lions scored 34 points while compiling a total of 401 yards offensively which included 210 passing yards and 211 rushing yards while allowing 20 points and 230 total yards defensively which included 246 passing yards and 27 rushing yards. Jared Goff led the team in passing, completing 19 of 28 attempts for 210 yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 10 yards. David Montgomery led the team in rushing with 32 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns while adding two receptions for 20 yards. Josh Reynolds led the team in receiving, catching three of six targets for 69 yards.

BookMaker has the Detroit Lions listed as 9.5-point favorites at home against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon in week 5 of the NFL season. Carolina has won eight of the last ten and two of the last three matchups while going 2-1 ATS in the last three games in the series. The Carolina Panthers are 0-3-1 ATS overall, 0-2 ATS on the road, and 0-3-1 ATS as an underdog this season while Detroit is 3-1 ATS overall, 1-1 ATS at home, and 2-1 ATS as a favorite on the year.

Detroit is the better team this season, however, Carolina has been the better team in the series, winning eight of the last ten and two of the last three games. The Panthers are 2-1 ATS in the last three games in the series. As a result, I am buying the .5 point and taking the Carolina Panthers +10 on BookMaker for this matchup on Sunday afternoon.