Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers: Last Minute Spread Info and Picks

Week 3 of the NFL season will feature a battle between the two teams that entered the league in 1995 during expansion, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers. While neither team is necessarily expected to go far this year, there is plenty of intrigue surrounding this game.

The Jags enter the game at 1-1 after edging the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 and getting lambasted by the New York Jets last week.

Jacksonville's performance against the New York Jets was so dire, in fact, that quarterback Luke McCown lost his starting job. Rookie Blaine Gabbert will make his first career start in McCown's place.

The Panthers are 0-2, but they have gotten to that point in outstanding fashion.

Quarterback Cam Newton, the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, has been far better than advertised as he has thrown for over 400 yards in each of his first two career starts. He has also mystified defenses with his running ability.

Carolina is favored as the home team and looks to have the more explosive defense, but defensive deficiencies could haunt the Panthers against Jacksonville just like they have in their previous two contests.

When: Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS at 1 p.m. ET

Spread: Carolina Panthers (-4)

Over/Under: 43 

Prediction

This game is likely to come down to which defense is able to hold up better. The Panthers' defense has been decimated by the pass over the first two games of the season as Arizona's Kevin Kolb and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers each had 300-yard games.

They have held up against the run, however, which should bode well for this week's game as the Jaguars will likely try to pound the rock with running back Maurice Jones-Drew. With no explosive receivers to speak of and rookie Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, Jacksonville really won't be able to hurt Carolina through the air.

The Panthers, on the other hand, will live and die with Newton on offense. Newton obviously can't be counted upon to throw for 400 yards every week, but between his passing and running, he should be accounting for the vast majority of Carolina's offense.

Under previous head coach John Fox, the Panthers featured a run-based offense. Despite having two capable backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers have leaned much more toward passing than running. It would be smart to at least establish the threat of the run against Jacksonville.

Overall, the Panthers seem to have a more exciting, more talented and all-around better team than Jacksonville. With Gabbert at quarterback, it will be difficult for the Jags to muster too much offense.  

The Panthers should cruise to a 27-10 victory.