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NFC South over/unders: Will Cam Newton play this preseason?

Frank Schwab
NFL writer

It’s August, which means it’s time to break down Las Vegas over/under win totals. While my teammates Brad Evans and Tank Williams handled the standard over/under lines you’ll find in Nevada sports books, here are some entirely made up over/unders for each team in the NFC South (we’ll be doing every division this week) as the preseason gets into full swing:

CAROLINA PANTHERS
Number of passes Cam Newton will throw this preseason: 0.5

Are we freaked out about Newton yet? He hasn’t gotten his full reps in practice for at least a week, and video of him lightly throwing to the side doesn’t exactly calm any fears that Newton’s shoulder is still not 100 percent. Newton probably will play in this preseason, but we might be one more setback away from the Panthers not risking it and waiting for him to return to a game in Week 1. The Panthers aren’t going anywhere without Newton. His cannon right arm needs to be healthy and we’re all waiting to see him get a clean bill of health. THE PICK: OVER

The Panthers have been cautious in Cam Newton's return from shoulder surgery. (AP)
The Panthers have been cautious in Cam Newton’s return from shoulder surgery. (AP)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Yards for Adrian Peterson this preseason: 81.5

We all knew the deal with Peterson during Minnesota Vikings preseason games: He wasn’t going to play. The last time Peterson touched the ball in a preseason game was 2011. But this is a new team and a new role. Peterson isn’t the unquestioned starter like he was in Minnesota. The Saints might not ride the 32-year-old Peterson hard in preseason – the team hasn’t divulged the plans for him in August – but it seems like he’ll play. Peterson said he was anxious to play in the preseason. Peterson isn’t going to grind out 15 carries in each game like some undrafted rookie, but it seems like we’ll see him a bit … just not too much. THE PICK: UNDER

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ATLANTA FALCONS
Catches for Austin Hooper this preseason: 9.5

Everything points to Hooper taking a nice step his second season. Hooper played well last year for a rookie. We know this passing offense is good and can support many targets. Matt Ryan likes to use his tight end (ask Tony Gonzalez) but they haven’t had much there the past couple years. Hooper is so entrenched as the starter he won’t need to play a bunch this preseason, but he should play very well when he does. THE PICK: OVER

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Roberto Aguayo missed field goals this preseason: 1.5

Aguayo has been good in practice this training camp, and he needed it. The Buccaneers brought in veteran Nick Folk to compete with the (ill-advised) 2016 second-round pick. Aguayo had a shaky rookie season and the Buccaneers needed insurance in case Aguayo struggled in August, no matter how much draft capital they used on him. The team would presumably prefer if Aguayo performed well, and he was listed as a starter on the team’s initial depth chart this week, but a few misses will put his job on shaky ground. THE PICK: UNDER

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!