The Detroit Lions are desperate for their first Super Bowl and after many years of having disappointing seasons, this may be the year that they have a chance to actually be in the running to be the NFC representative. The Lions are the favorites to win the NFC North as they are +133 and have an over/under win total of 9.5 wins. The Detroit Lions have the 4^th best odds of winning the NFC behind the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys as they are +1200 to win the NFC Championship.

The Lions have rested the majority of their starters this preseason with only Jahmyr Gibbs getting touches from what are expected to be the offensive starters. Detroit is averaging 14 points per game in the preseason after only scoring seven points in week 2 of the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars which resulted in a 7-25 loss. Nate Sudfeld led the team in passing completing 9 of 18 attempts for 80 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the game. Jermar Jefferson led the team in rushing with six carries for 16 yards. Craig Reynolds led the team in receiving, catching four of six targets for 29 yards. 

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers play in what is arguably the worst division in the NFL, the NFC South, and have a chance to win the division. The Panthers are expected to finish in 3^rd place in the division as they are +430 to win the division, however, over the last few games of the regular season last year the Panthers looked like the best team in the NFC South winning four of their last six games. This season they will have a rookie starting at quarterback in Bryce Young who started at the University of Alabama for the past few seasons and was the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. Young has played sparingly in the preseason, in week 1 Young completed four of six attempts for 21 yards and completed three of six attempts in week 2 of the preseason for 35 yards. 

BookMaker has the Carolina Panthers listed as 4.5-point favorites at home against the Detroit Lions and has set the total for the over/under plays at 37 points. Carolina has been the dominant team in the series, winning eight of the last ten and two of the last three games in the series. 

The Panthers are 2-1 ATS in the last three games in the series. Most of the starters will not play in this game as week 3 of the preseason is mainly reserved for players on the roster bubble, so it is hard to really make a pick in most of week 3 in the preseason. 

However, while the Lions may have the better starters this season I think the talent is almost equal as far as 2^nd and 3^rd string players goes for both teams. This should be a tightly contested contest but in the end, I look for the dominance of the Carolina Panthers in the series to continue which is why I am buying the .5 point and taking the Carolina Panthers -4 at home against the Detroit Lions in week 3 of the NFL preseason on Friday.