PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Sunday 10-Dime Destroyer
(NFL) Seattle vs. Carolina,
Money Line: -115.00 Carolina (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -115.00 Carolina (Home)
Result: Win
Early money has been on the Seahawks. It's a mistake. The Panthers are the better team and are in a much better spot.
So why is Carolina the better team besides obviously having a superior record?
Both defenses are strong. I'd actually give a slight edge to Seattle's defense, although it is down from its previous two seasons. It remains very good, but not dominant.
The Panthers led the league in scoring. This includes scoring 27 points on the Seahawks in their Week 6 victory - at Seattle. Cam Newton is a strong MVP candidate. Marshawn Lynch may be back for Seattle, but he wasn't having a good season. Carolina should also get its best running back, too, with Jonathan Stewart expected to start.
Seattle's offense showed a lot of troubling characteristics against Minnesota's tough defense last week - such as misfired passes, just 5-of-14 on third down conversions, a time of possession deficit and only putting up 10 points. The Seahawks' lone touchdown was set up by a fluke play when the ball bounced right back to Russell Wilson on a bad snap. Wilson took advantage of the busted play to complete a 35-yard pass.
Seattle would have lost to the Vikings if not for Blair Walsh's missed 27-yard field goal at the end. The success rate of a field goal from that short distance is 97 percent during the past 10 years. The Seahawks also were unbelievably lucky last season when Green Bay failed to field an on-side kick.
So much of the Seahawks' mystique is built on luck. Carolina isn't getting enough credit for its 15-1 season, including a 4-0 record SU and ATS versus teams who made the playoffs this season.
The Panthers are rested and home. They have a big chip on their shoulder feeling they haven't gotten the respect they deserve. They are a rising team that is ready for the next step having made the postseason each of the past two seasons.
By contrast, Seattle is traveling for the third consecutive week. This is an early start time, too, for the West Coast Seahawks. The victory against the Vikings in frigid conditions takes a toll on the Seahawks. Seattle isn't as good as it has been the previous two seasons. The Seahawks' time is now up.
So why is Carolina the better team besides obviously having a superior record?
Both defenses are strong. I'd actually give a slight edge to Seattle's defense, although it is down from its previous two seasons. It remains very good, but not dominant.
The Panthers led the league in scoring. This includes scoring 27 points on the Seahawks in their Week 6 victory - at Seattle. Cam Newton is a strong MVP candidate. Marshawn Lynch may be back for Seattle, but he wasn't having a good season. Carolina should also get its best running back, too, with Jonathan Stewart expected to start.
Seattle's offense showed a lot of troubling characteristics against Minnesota's tough defense last week - such as misfired passes, just 5-of-14 on third down conversions, a time of possession deficit and only putting up 10 points. The Seahawks' lone touchdown was set up by a fluke play when the ball bounced right back to Russell Wilson on a bad snap. Wilson took advantage of the busted play to complete a 35-yard pass.
Seattle would have lost to the Vikings if not for Blair Walsh's missed 27-yard field goal at the end. The success rate of a field goal from that short distance is 97 percent during the past 10 years. The Seahawks also were unbelievably lucky last season when Green Bay failed to field an on-side kick.
So much of the Seahawks' mystique is built on luck. Carolina isn't getting enough credit for its 15-1 season, including a 4-0 record SU and ATS versus teams who made the playoffs this season.
The Panthers are rested and home. They have a big chip on their shoulder feeling they haven't gotten the respect they deserve. They are a rising team that is ready for the next step having made the postseason each of the past two seasons.
By contrast, Seattle is traveling for the third consecutive week. This is an early start time, too, for the West Coast Seahawks. The victory against the Vikings in frigid conditions takes a toll on the Seahawks. Seattle isn't as good as it has been the previous two seasons. The Seahawks' time is now up.
