Home ’Dog Panthers Look To Spoil Seahawks’ Division Title Chances

The Seahawks were embarrassed last week on SNF but look to rebound against a Panthers squad that has lost five straight games. The total has gone OVER in each of their last five matchups and given how both defenses have struggled, expect that trend to continue in Week 15.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Despite the ugly loss, Seattle is still 10-3 and has a shot at first place in the NFC, while the Panthers are just trying to keep some dignity in a lost season, making the Seahawks a predictable road favorite, Sportsbook with a 6-point spread. The total opened at 48.5 points as both defenses have struggled lately and these teams have played to the OVER in each of their last five matchups.

Seattle News & Notes

The Seahawks entered Week 14 at 10-2, needing a win to stay tied for the NFC West Division lead and for the top seed in the conference.

Seattle has been carried all season by the brilliance of quarterback Russell Wilson, as its defense gives up the sixth-most yards per game and sits in the bottom third of the league in scoring defense. Against a desperate Rams team on Sunday Night Football, however, Wilson had a bad game and the Seahawks got crushed 28-12.

In addition to failing to score an offensive touchdown for the first time since Week 1 of 2017, Seattle also lost backup running back Rashaad Penny for the season due to a torn ACL. He was Seattle’s top receiving option out of the backfield and formed a great one-two punch with starter Chris Carson, who will see the bulk of the touches going forward.

The loss was the Seahawks’ first on the road this season. They have a good chance to get back on track Sunday against a free-falling Panthers team that they’ve also beaten in seven of their last nine matchups.

Carolina News & Notes

Following the firing of longtime coach Ron Rivera, interim head coach Perry Fewell was looking to stop the tailspin that Carolina has been in the past month.

His debut game did not go as planned, as Carolina traveled to Atlanta and got thumped 40-20. It was the fifth straight loss for the Panthers, and they’ve been outscored 66-27 over their last seven quarters.

Carolina was torched for 461 yards last week, while their offensive superstar, running back Christian McCaffrey, struggled yet again. After being near the top of the NFL in rushing yards most of the season, he has now failed to top 70 yards rushing in fourth consecutive games, while also failing to record a touchdown in three of his last four contests.

The loss seems to be the norm for the Panthers once the calendar turns to December, as they are 2-7 ATS in their last nine December contests. If they want to avoid that stretch becoming 2-8 on Sunday, they will need McCaffrey to return to his early-season superhuman form.

Betting Pick: OVER 48.5

Both teams have some offensive capabilities, but more importantly neither has shown much defensive inclination lately. I’m expecting lots of points, so I’ll take the OVER.