Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 29 2026
You know what bothers me about Green Bay? The Packers are supposed to be a pretty good football team, but they’re scoring just over 20 points a game and can’t run the ball worth a darn. Now they’re laying more than a field goal against Carolina. I understand why they’re favored. They’re at Lambeau, and the Panthers just got their doors blown off by Tampa Bay. But I’m not convinced Green Bay deserves to be giving away that extra half-point.
Carolina visits Green Bay Thursday, October 29, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Kickoff is 8:15 PM ET on Prime Video. The Packers are favored by 3.5 points, with the total sitting around 47.5. The latest forecasts vary, but neither is calling for weather bad enough to change the whole game. Temperatures should be somewhere between the low 40s and mid-50s, with light to moderate wind and little chance of rain. That’s football weather. I’m taking Carolina with the points and leaning Under. Get ready for all the action with our free NFL picks.
Carolina Panthers Need to Get That Tampa Bay Game Out of Their Heads
Carolina is 3-3, including 2-1 on the road. The Panthers had won two straight before Tampa Bay came into Charlotte Sunday and embarrassed them 43-13. That was ugly. The offense never got comfortable, the defense couldn’t stop much, and the game was pretty much gone before Carolina could do anything about it. But the week before, the Panthers went into Philadelphia and won 25-14. That’s why I’m not throwing them out after one bad Sunday.
The Panthers are averaging 26.5 points and 381.3 yards a game. That’s a better offense than Green Bay has shown so far. Carolina is getting 276 passing yards a game and another 105 on the ground. The defense is another story. The Panthers allow 27.7 points and 348.8 yards, including 153.2 rushing yards. That’s a problem against most teams, but Green Bay has been averaging only 59.9 rushing yards a game. If the Packers can’t take advantage of Carolina’s biggest weakness, I don’t see them running away with this.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Bryce Young has thrown for 1,712 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s been a lot better this year, even if Tampa Bay made him look ordinary Sunday. Chuba Hubbard has 459 rushing yards and four scores, while Tetairoa McMillan leads the receivers with 511 yards. The injury report isn’t pretty, though. Taylor Moton is on injured reserve, and Damien Lewis and Torricelli Simpkins III have been dealing with injuries along the offensive line. Jaelan Phillips has a hamstring problem, and Akayleb Evans has been limited by a triceps and knee issue. Young was listed with a knee problem but practiced fully. Carolina needs its offensive line to hold up, because Young can’t spend Thursday night running for his life.
Green Bay Packers Have Their Own Problems
Green Bay is 4-3, with a 2-1 home record. The Packers beat Dallas 23-13 before losing 20-17 to Detroit Sunday. That loss wasn’t embarrassing like Carolina’s, but it was another game where Green Bay couldn’t get much going offensively. The Packers have been good enough to win four games, but they haven’t looked like a team that should scare anybody. They’ve scored 20 points or fewer in four of their seven games.
Green Bay averages 20.6 points and 328.4 yards a game. The passing game has been decent at 268.6 yards, but the rushing attack is averaging just 59.9. That’s terrible. The defense has been much better, allowing 20.7 points and 323 yards. That’s why the Packers have been winning despite the offense. But Carolina can move the ball, and Green Bay has allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 68 percent of their red-zone trips. If the Panthers get down near the goal line, they have a decent chance to finish drives.
Jordan Love has thrown for 1,958 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Christian Watson has 595 receiving yards and six touchdowns, so Green Bay can still hurt a defense through the air. But the Packers are dealing with offensive-line injuries too. Sean Rhyan hurt his ankle against Detroit, and Matthew Golden has been dealing with shoulder and foot problems. Aaron Banks and Devonte Wyatt have also been on the injury report. Green Bay’s offense wasn’t exactly humming before those injuries. Losing more protection up front won’t help.
Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers Picks and Predictions
Carolina Panthers +3.5
I’m taking Carolina plus the points. The Panthers just got embarrassed, and that makes them a little dangerous Thursday. They’ve been scoring nearly six points more per game than Green Bay, and Young has been throwing the ball well enough to keep Carolina competitive. Green Bay has the better defense, and playing at Lambeau is never easy. But the Packers haven’t been running the ball, and I don’t trust an offense averaging 20.6 points to cover more than a field goal against a team that can score. Carolina might not win outright. I wouldn’t be shocked if Green Bay pulls out something like 24-21. But give me the Panthers and that extra half-point.
Under 47.5 Points
I like Under 47.5. Green Bay has been scoring 20.6 a game, and five of its seven games have finished Under the total. Carolina has a better offense, but Thursday night on a short week isn’t the easiest place to bounce back after a 30-point beating. Both teams have offensive-line injuries, and Green Bay’s defense has been good enough to keep opponents from getting comfortable. The danger is Carolina’s defense giving up a couple of big plays. Tampa Bay just scored 43 on the Panthers, after all. But Green Bay hasn’t shown the kind of offense that regularly takes advantage of a bad defense. I’m thinking a game in the low 40s.
Final Picks: Carolina Panthers +3.5 and Under 47.5 Points
Betting on the NFL?
- Be sure to look our our list of the best NFL online sportsbooks
- Grow your bankroll by claiming one of our favorite NFL sportsbook promo codes
Get Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over Your First 10 Days
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets when you wager $5 for 7 days
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5, Get $200 + 3 Months of NBA League Pass!
