NFL Predictions Week 5: Why Panthers and Bills Are 2 Great Home 'Dogs to Bet on

The Carolina Panthers may be 1-3, but they’ve been in every single game this season.

They lost to the Cardinals and Packers by seven and the Bears by five.

Rookie QB Cam Newton has done a terrific job of taking what the defense gives him and not trying to force throws. He’s not afraid to tuck and run and is quickly emerging as the undisputed leader of the team.

Did I mention he has 1,386 passing yards in four games?

The Panthers are a dangerous offense with a defense that is quietly sixth ranked against the pass.

That will come in handy against a Saints team that relies heavily on spreading the ball around the field.

As long as the Panthers can contain the Saints run game, this is going to be a one score game. Right now the Saints are favored by 6.5 on the road—I’d take the frisky Panthers to take advantage of a Saints defense that is still learning how to play together.

Prediction: Saints 30 Panthers 24

(Spreads courtesy of Covers.com)

Buffalo Bills +1.5 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Buffalo is back at home after blowing a 17-3 lead to the Bengals and are looking to get back on track against a team that knows a little something about collapses.

The Bills' No. 5-ranked running game should be able to destroy an unpredictable Eagles front seven that is low on confidence and high on question marks. Right now only two teams have given up more rushing yards than the Eagles.

The cocky birds still think they can run the table and are going to be in for yet another rude awakening. Expect the high-powered Bills offense to run up and down the field at will and anticipate the Eagles' sloppiness with the ball to doom them yet again.

Prediction: Bills 36 Eagles 28