Betting on the Panthers To Beat the Seahawks

If truth be told, teams don’t really care who they have to face to get to the Super Bowl, but in the case of the Carolina Panthers, you get the sense that they really wanted to face the Seattle Seahawks this postseason. The Seahawks have been the cream of the NFC for 2 straight years now, and dethroning them would be a huge morale booster. The Panthers will get a shot at doing that on Sunday, January 17 when they welcome Seattle into Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Kick-off is set for 1:05 PM EST on Fox.

The Early Betting Favorite

The Panthers have been given a 3-point advantage on XBet.ag for this one, and it’s a deserving number when you consider that the Panthers already have a win over the Seahawks this season. That win came on the road, which has to be a little concerning for Seattle, as the Panthers are a whole lot better when playing at home. They were a perfect 8-0 at Bank of America Stadium this season, so no real surprise that they would be favored there once again.

Healthy and Rested

Had the Panthers been forced to play on Wild Card Weekend, they may have had to do so without RB Jonathon Stewart and WR Ted Ginn Jr. As it is, the extra week off allowed both of those guys to rest up and get ready, and both are expected to suit up this coming weekend. Stewart racked up 78 yards versus the Seahawks when they met earlier in the season, which is a solid number when you consider how often Cam Newton runs the ball. The loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Week 16 can also be viewed as a positive here, as it means the pressure of going uneaten on the year is removed. This is a group that should be coming in healthy, relaxed, and ready to go.

A Bet On The Panthers Is A Bet On Cam Newton

One of the main reasons why the Panthers are considered a favorite to win Super Bowl 50 is because of the maturity of Cam Newton. This has been a coming of age season for the QB, as he has developed into a better passer, whilst also eliminating many of the mistakes that would cost the Panthers games in the past. He also looks like more of a team player than ever before, and it looks like every guy on this team enjoys what they are doing. Newton has a 104.6 QB rating at home this year, which is a full 10 points better than what he achieved on the road. He has 20 TD passes at home this season as compared to 15 on the road. Simply put, Newton likes a little bit of home cooking.

Final Betting Prediction

The Panthers had lost 4 straight games to the Seahawks before they finally beat them in Seattle in the early part of the season. That gives Carolina a psychological edge heading into this one. When you combine that with the other factors mentioned here, you get a Panthers win.