Panthers like role as ‘dogs

There's no telling if he knows what the betting line is each week, but Carolina Panthers coach John Fox seems to enjoy being an underdog.

The Panthers usually are underdogs when they hit the road, and that's the case again today. Tampa Bay is a 11/2-point favorite over Carolina at Raymond James Stadium, where Fox has won five consecutive games.

Handicapper Bruce Marshall of The Gold Sheet said "series and team trends" point to a play on the Panthers.

Carolina opened the season as a 91/2-point underdog at San Diego and stunned the Chargers 26-24 on Jake Delhomme's last-second touchdown pass.

The Panthers lost 20-10 as 3-point underdogs at Minnesota on Sept. 21.

"The Panthers have been one of the NFL's most-accomplished underdogs this decade, especially so away from home," said Marshall, citing Carolina's 20-8-2 spread mark in its past 30 games as an underdog.

Marshall (goldsheet.com) is 2-2 on his best bets for the Review-Journal. He outlines more key trends in today's games:

• Baltimore at Indianapolis: The Ravens are 6-3-1 over the total in their past 10 on the road. The Colts are 0-2 straight up and against the spread in Lucas Oil Stadium, but both games went over the total. Edge: Ravens and over.

• Cincinnati at New York Jets: The Bengals are 8-3 under the total in their past 11. Jets coach Eric Mangini is 2-1 as a favorite this season, and throwing out last year's 0-3-1 chalk mark, the Jets are 6-2-1 laying points since 2006 for Mangini. Edge: Jets and under.

• Detroit at Minnesota: The Vikings are 5-0-1 ATS in the past six in the series. The Lions are 2-8 ATS away since last year and 4-14 since 2006. The Lions also are 14-5 over in their past 19 away. Edge: Vikings and over.

• Chicago at Atlanta: The Falcons are 8-2 over the total in the past 10 at the Georgia Dome. The Bears are 27-14-1 over in the past 42 games. Edge: Over.

• Jacksonville at Denver: The Broncos are 20-6 over in their past 26 since late 2006 and 13-3 over in the past 16 at Invesco Field. The Jaguars are 11-2 over in their past 13 on the road. The Jaguars are 7-2 as road underdogs since last season. Edge: Jaguars and over.

• Dallas at Arizona: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is 7-3 ATS at home, including 2-0 as a home underdog. Arizona is 19-7 over the total in its past 26 since late 2006. Edge: Cardinals and over.

Compiled by Review-Journal sportswriter Matt Youmans.