Make New York Post a Preferred Source Bryce Young (9) of the Carolina Panthers warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images The Panthers and Saints are tied for the lead in the NFC South entering Week 10 of the NFL season and both teams have a golden opportunity to sit alone atop the division after they meet Sunday.
Every team in the NFC South is below .500 at the halfway point of the season, which means we could be in for yet another dramatic finish.
For these two teams, the chase for the division starts now.
Oddsmakers give the Saints a slight advantage at home, with the spread 2.5 points in their favor.
The Over/Under is hovering around 48.5 points at most books.
These two teams are strangely similar on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, they each have explosive potential and can put numbers on the board, but are heavily reliant on their signal callers, who are tied for first with 38.5 passing attempts per game.
New Orleans Saints’ Tyler Shough (6) reacts after a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images Quarterback Tyler Shough is basically the Saints’ entire offense this season. He leads the team in rushing yards and has accounted for 16 of their 22 touchdowns this season.
For Carolina, quarterback Bryce Young is responsible for 17 of the Panthers’ 24 total touchdowns this season.
On defense, they both allow 27 points per game and are vulnerable in the run game. The Saints give up the fourth-most yards per game on the ground and the Panthers allow the fifth-most.
While neither team’s run game could be confused for the 1976 Steelers with Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, the fact that the defenses are so bad at stopping the run means neither side can sell out to just stop the opposing quarterback.
I think we’ll see both offenses move the ball with ease and if they get into the red zone, both sides have been great at converting those opportunities.
The Pick: Over 48.5 (-112, DraftKings)
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
