Carolina Panthers 2010 NFL Predictions: Can the Panthers escape mediocrity in a division which currently houses the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints as well as a young, up and coming squad in Atlanta? John Fox's ability to answer that question will probably determine his fate in Carolina, a franchise he guided to the championship game in 2004. 2010 NFL Predictions at SBGglobal.com presently have the Panthers listed at +600 moneyline odds to win the NFC South and +2000 odds to win the NFC Championship.
Carolina looked like it might be on the verge of another Super Bowl run in 2008 after going 12-4 in the regular season and 
earning a home playoff game. That run never happened, though, as the Arizona Cardinals stunned the Panthers 33-13 at Bank of America Stadium in the Divisional Round. Still, despite that bitter loss, Carolina appeared to be in a position to contend for the division title again in 2009. That never happened either as the club battled its way through an 8-8, third place season.
The Panthers lackluster record prompted big changes in the offseason with a number of veterans being cut or traded. Among those being shown the door by the club or by their own volition were Jake Delhomme, Julius Peppers, Mushin Muhammad, Damione Lewis, Dante Wesley, Quinton Teal, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Landon Johnson, Chris Harris, and Na'll Diggs.
The offense, which ranked 19th in yards per game at 331.1 and 21st in points per game at 19.7, will now be directed by Matt Moore. Moore threw for 1053 yards and eight touchdowns after taking over for Delhomme last year, earning him a 98.5 passer rating. The Oregon State product will have two great running backs at his disposal in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart as well as a respectable line in front of him. The problem for Fox, and Moore, is the lack of depth and experience at receiver. Steve Smith returns but outside of his veteran presence, the team has nothing in the way of a proven commodity.
The team took two wideouts in the third round in Brandon LaFell (LSU) and Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State) that figure to see the field quite a bit this season. And, should Moore falter, the club might elect to make a change at quarterback by throwing rookie Jimmy Clausen into the fire.
Carolina's defense obviously loses a lot in Peppers, making the situation upfront a tenuous one. The team ranked eighth in the league in yards per game allowed and ninth in points per game allowed a season ago, but finishing inside the top 10 in those categories this year may be a reach. There are solid pieces at every level in Tyler Brayton, Jon Beason, and Chris Gamble, but it is difficult to envision the unit getting better with the number of players lost.
Carolina Panthers 2010 NFL Predictions: 8-8, Third Place NFC South. Carolina has the parts to be a good team, but not a great one. The upside here is 9-7 to 10-6 and that assumes that the Saints and Falcons do not live up to their current billing.
SBGglobal.com Carolina Panthers 2010 NFL Predictions:
Odds to Win the NFC South +600 (three of four)
Odds to Win the NFC Championship +2000 (Tied 11 of 16)
Odds to Win the Super Bowl +4400
Regular Season Win Total: Over 7.5 (+115), Under 7.5 (-145)
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