The Carolina Panthers are still hoping to catching the New Orleans Saints atop the NFC South division, and while that’s looking like a pipe dream, they still need to win for their own morale after dropping their last two outings. As for the Seattle Seahawks, they also need a win to keep themselves in playoff conversations. The sportsbook currently favors the Panthers by a bit more than a field goal in this matchup. In addition, the Panthers are +3,500 to win the NFC title, while the Seahawks are +5,000 to reign supreme in the conference.
The Seahawks prevented themselves from slipping into a three-game losing skid by beating the Green Bay Packers at home, 27-24. Beating Aaron Rodgers is always going to be an accomplishment, and the Seahawks did it in part by successfully invading the Packers’ pocket. Although Rodgers had 332 passing yards and two touchdowns with zero picks thrown, he was taken down by the Seahawks’ defense five times for a loss of 21 yards. The Seahawks top running back in Chris Carson is evidently healthy again after powering his way into racking up 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Seattle had 173 rushing yards in total in the Green Bay game, and will look to hammer their way through the Panthers run defense with Carson, Rashaad Penny, and Mike Davis alternating carries.
The Seahawks, who are eighth in the NFL with only 21.6 points allowed per game, are 2-0 ATS in their last two road games.
Betting on the Carolina Panthers (6-4)
The Panthers are treading dangerous waters. After stringing together three-straight wins from Weeks 7-9, they have now lost each of their last two games, including a 20-10 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions on the road last Sunday. Both of those losses were on the road, though, where the Panthers have conspicuously played bad. In fact, they are only 1-4 SU on the road this season. But with a game at home this coming Sunday, it’s perhaps just what the doctored ordered for Cam Newton and company. The Panthers have an undefeated 5-0 SU record at home so far this season. They have also covered the spread in four of those games. Trends aside, the Panthers will rely on Newton and the Panthers’ passing attack to lead them to a win over the Seahawks after he erupted for 357 passing yards and three touchdowns against just an interception in the Detroit game. Wide receiver DJ Moore had hands like a magnet in that contest, racking up 157 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven catches and eight targets. He’ll be a problem for Seattle.
