The Carolina Panthers will travel to Foxborough on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET to face the New England Patriots in an early afternoon showdown. With the Patriots listed as 5.5-point favorites, respected handicapper Mike Lundin sees value on the underdog Panthers. His NFL free pick is locked in: Carolina +5.5 (-108 at MyBookie).

In this article, we’ll break down Lundin’s reasoning, analyze the betting spot, and show why following experts like him can help bettors—from casual players to sharp investors—make smarter, more profitable wagers.

Free Pick Breakdown: Panthers +5.5

Mike Lundin’s picks case for backing Carolina is grounded in momentum and situational awareness.

• Panthers Riding High: Carolina enters this game fresh off a stunning 30-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. That type of performance does wonders for team confidence, and Lundin believes the Panthers can ride that energy into Foxborough.
• Patriots Struggling as Favorites: New England has been brutal in this role, going just 1-5 straight up and against the spread in their last six games as a favorite. Bettors should take note: the Patriots simply haven’t been justifying chalk status.
• Turnovers an Ongoing Issue: Last week’s 21-14 home loss to Pittsburgh featured five Patriots turnovers, highlighting their lack of discipline and consistency. Even if New England cleans things up slightly, it’s tough to back them laying more than a field goal right now.
• The Underdog Angle: Carolina is catching points in a matchup where the favorite has done little to inspire confidence. In these kinds of situations, seasoned bettors often look to the underdog to cover the number, and that’s exactly Lundin’s angle here.

Bottom line: Carolina is undervalued, and New England is overvalued. The Panthers are the smarter side of the wager.

About Mike Lundin

Mike Lundin has built his reputation on finding edges where oddsmakers overreact. Known for blending statistical models with situational betting angles, he has consistently delivered profitable results across sports. NFL free picks from him and others at PicksDepot.com