For a small guy, Steve Smith sure makes a sizable difference in the plight of the Carolina Panthers, who were winless without him and are unbeaten with him this season.

The Panthers, 3-2 after a three-game winning streak, are 3-point underdogs at Baltimore today.

And when the Panthers are underdogs, and Smith is playing, The Gold Sheet editor Bruce Marshall likes their chances.

"The Panthers are perhaps the premier underdog team in the league," said Marshall, noting their 18-3-1 record against the spread in the past 22 games in that role.

Carolina gets the offensive edge with the speedy 5-foot-9-inch wide receiver Smith stretching the field for quarterback Jake Delhomme and running back DeShaun Foster.

The Ravens are relying on two veterans -- quarterback Steve McNair and running back Jamal Lewis.

"Not to downgrade Baltimore for the Monday loss in Denver, but the fact is the Ravens' offensive attack isn't there, mostly because Lewis has slowed down, and for all of McNair's leadership, this offense just doesn't score enough points," Marshall said.

"Carolina is back in gear with Smith healthy and contributing, which makes all of the difference to Delhomme."

The Panthers, 0-4-1 against the spread, join Miami and Oakland as the NFL's only winless ATS teams this season.

Marshall (goldsheet.com) highlights angles for Week 6:

• Cincinnati at Tampa Bay: The Bengals are 12-1-1 ATS in their last 14 road games, and they are also 12-6 "over" the total on the road since 2004.

• Tennessee at Washington: The Titans are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 away. The Redskins are 9-4 in their last 13 at FedEx Field, and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 as favorites.

• Houston at Dallas: Note the Texans have covered off their bye week the past two seasons. The Cowboys went "over" 9-3-1 in the last 13 games.

• Buffalo at Detroit: Perhaps a developing "totals" trend is the Lions going "over" in four straight. The Bills are 12-5 ATS as favorites since 2004.

• Seattle at St. Louis: The Seahawks are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 away from home. The Rams have won and covered the first two at home.

• N.Y. Giants at Atlanta: Giants coach Tom Coughlin is 2-4-1 as an underdog since last year. The Falcons are 2-0 straight up and ATS as hosts this season.

• Philadelphia at New Orleans: The Eagles are 2-0 ATS away, and note that if throwing out 2005, coach Andy Reid is 37-15 ATS in the last 52 as a visitor.

• Miami at N.Y. Jets: The Jets have covered the last five against the Dolphins and are 13-2-1 ATS in the series.

• San Diego at San Francisco: Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer is 13-3-2 ATS away since 2004.

• Kansas City at Pittsburgh: The Steelers went "over" 31-9-1 in the last 41 at home, but coach Bill Cowher is 4-8 ATS in the last 12 at home.

• Oakland at Denver: Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has won and covered the last two and five of the last six versus his former employer, and he is 15-6-1 ATS against Al Davis since taking the Denver job in 1995. The Raiders are 9-24-1 as underdogs since 2003.

• Chicago at Arizona: The Bears are 11-5-2 ATS in their last 18 games. The Cardinals are 7-14 ATS since last season.