Carolina Panthers vs Seattle Seahawks Point Spread Picks

Carolina can clinch the NFC South with a win and a Tampa Bay loss or tie. Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth and now seeks to finish with the best record in the NFC. The Panthers have had a kind of strange season, as they can still make the postseason even after losing twice to New Orleans. However, they came up big last week, defeating the Buccaneers 23-20 as Bryce Young passed for 191 yards and two TDs, and safety Lathan Ransom intercepted Baker Mayfield with 42 seconds left to seal the victory. The Seahawks are 1-5 ATS in their past six December games, and Carolina is on a 10-3 ATS run at home. The Panthers are 8-3 ATS in their past 11 games against the NFC, and 5-1 ATS at home against teams with winning road records. Seattle has not covered its past two games, squeaking out an 18-16 win over Indianapolis and edging the Rams in overtime 38-37. Grab the points with the Panthers.

Carolina's defense keeps them in games as they come off a 20-17 loss to New Orleans. The defense is eighth in yards allowed, fourth against the pass, and Top 10 on third down (34.62%). The Panthers are 41-24 ATS after scoring 17 points or less in back-to-back games. Seattle comes home after a long road trip to Detroit. They flopped in their only home game, losing 30-13 as a favorite to the Rams. The defense is 31st in yards given up (422 per game) and against the pass, plus dead last on third down (60.71%). And the offense is 24th in total yards, 25th in rushing, and 20th on third down. The Seahawks are 1-8 ATS after getting 99 or fewer rushing yards in two consecutive contests. In addition, NFL home favorites that gave up 24+ points per game in the previous season are 11-39 ATS after playing a game where 50+ total points were scored. Play Carolina. 

Rebuilding Seattle has a losing road record and makes a long road trip to the East Coast. The Seahawks are 3-7 ATS following a straight-up win and this is their longest road trek of the season. The Seahawks have lost so much defensive talent form their glory years and they've allowed 25, 36 and 24 points the last three games. Carolina is unbeaten at home, on an 8-2 spread run at home, plus 11-5 ATS when following a spread loss. The Panthers have a good shot to make the playoffs and will play with a sense of urgency, home from a lousy two-game road trip losing at Pittsburgh (52-21) and Detroit (20-19). That ended a stretch winning six of eight. Seattle likes to run but the Panthers are stout up front, at eighth in the league against the run, while the balanced offense is #11 in points scored (26 pg). And Carolina is 47-29 ATS against defenses that allow 4.5 yards rushing per carry or more. Play Carolina.