Congratulations, bettors! The real winners of the Christian McCaffrey trade.
When the Carolina Panthers handed their star running back to one of the best team’s in the NFC, bettors officially gained a sure winner to throw into their parlays each week for the remainder of the 2022 season.
No, the lock I speak of isn’t the San Francisco 49ers, who got a B- trade grade for gaining one of the best and most versatile running backs in the league. Though McCaffrey makes the Niners better, I wouldn’t just write them in to win every week.
The lock is the Carolina Panthers, who are apparently tanking as they look to rebuild and may not win another game this season. More accurately, bettors should be playing the moneyline of whoever the Panthers are playing each week.
At 1-5, I wasn’t sure how much winning the Panthers would do even before trading their best player. But, now, I’m certain it won’t be a lot, if any. That’s not simply because McCaffrey is gone, but also because his trade likely means more players will follow — we even have a few suggestions on who those players should be.
Panthers GM Scott Fitterer said Friday the team isn’t tanking and expects to win, but their actions say otherwise.
You don’t trade McCaffrey and starting receiver Robbie Anderson if the intention is to win. Those players gave you a better shot at doing so.
Despite trading two starters in the last 5 days, #Panthers GM Scott Fitterer says the team is not tanking.
“The expectation of winning never changes.” pic.twitter.com/fNjaG57LNP
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) October 21, 2022
Carolina is very clearly collecting draft assets, and it has a few other players on the roster who can fetch more while that remains the goal.
In the meantime, this team will do a lot of losing, starting with Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13). Even with the NFL’s fourth-easiest remaining strength of schedule, according to Tankathon, bettors are going to be confident wagering against Carolina’s moneyline.
If only we could nail the other legs in our parlays, we might actually make some money.
