Carolina cannot afford to take things easy

Best handicap bet
New York Jets +5.5 v Carolina

There are six weeks of the regular season remaining and the only division that looks like being more than a two-horse race is the red-hot NFC South, which has produced a Super Bowl team in the last two seasons.

One of those was Carolina and they would be involved in the playoffs if the season was to end today alongside their rivals New Orleans and Atlanta.

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Chicago at Philadelphia
New Orleans at LA Rams
Green Bay at Pittsburgh
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The Panthers head to Louisiana to play the Saints next week and it would be no surprise if they allowed themselves to take their eye off the ball when they face the New York Jets.

Carolina have been the punters' friends in covering the handicap in six of their last seven matches, but the Jets have also been successful in beating the spread in six of their ten games and earning a handicap tie in the other two.

Both teams have just completed a bye week and while the Jets have suffered four defeats in their last five matches, they have not lost by more than seven points since they fell 45-20 at Oakland in Week Two.

The Panthers slipped up to opposition of a similar standard when they lost 17-3 at Chicago in Week Seven and although they have bounced back since then, they cannot afford to get carried away.

Best total-points bet
Over 14 Cleveland points v Cincinnati

It has got to the stage where simply any win would do for Cleveland and should their first success of the season come at Ohio rivals Cincinnati it would taste even sweeter.

It is difficult to predict with great confidence that the Browns will come out on top, even if they tend to be the architects of their own downfall and they have averaged just 15 points per match this season.

However, it seems a modest task to gain 14 points against a team who have conceded at least as many points as that in eight of their ten matches - even though one of the other occasions was in Cleveland in Week Four.

The Browns have tended to slip out of contention in the second half after making encouraging starts and it should be a realistic expectation that they go out on the front foot early on.

Conversely, they could also gain points towards the end of the clash if the Bengals establish a comfortable lead and take their foot off the gas.

Best player bet
J Landry to score a touchdown for Miami

Last season's Super Bowl winners New England are storming towards the playoffs, but the Patriots defence have been uncomfortable against the pass this term and have conceded more yards through the air than anyone.

That hasn't necessarily been translated into points as they have not conceded more than 20 in a game of their current six-match unbeaten streak, but the signs are good for another big performance from Miami wide receiver Jarvis Landry.

The Dolphins will have Matt Moore at quarterback while Jay Cutler deals with concussion, but the stand-in showed he is not shy to sling the ball after setting up Kenny Stills for a 61-yard score in last week's loss to Tampa Bay.

Landry has scored a touchdown in six of his last seven matches and can claim another six-point score against the Pats.

Recommendations
New York Jets +5.5
2pts 10-11 general
Over 14 Cleveland points
2pts 5-6 Betfair, Paddy Power
J Landry to score a touchdown
1pt 5-2 Hills

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