Seahawks vs. Panthers Spread Prediction
The Seahawks have a golden opportunity to rebound from their Week 14 loss to the Rams when they visit a Panthers squad that is in freefall mode following five consecutive losses. That said, will the Hawks cover as a touchdown-sized road favorite?
Game Snapshot
315 Seattle Seahawks (-6) at 316 Carolina Panthers (+6); O/U 48.5
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 15, 2019
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Public Betting Trends
According to our NFL Football Public Betting Chart page, the Seahawks are receiving 78% of the betting tickets from online sportsbooks.
Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Spin
Jadeveon Clowney (core, illness) has been ruled out for Week 15 against the Panthers. Clowney has played through his core issue the last couple weeks, but he’s battling the flu in addition to the injury. It’s an obvious downgrade to Seattle’s pass rush, though Ziggy Ansah (neck) looks likely to return Sunday. Clowney should only end up missing one game.
Carolina Panthers Fantasy Spin
Christian McCaffrey rushed 11 times for 53 yards and caught 11-of-12 targets for 82 receiving yards in the Panthers’ Week 14 loss to the Falcons. McCaffrey has been held out of the end zone in three of his last four games, but even that hasn’t stopped CMC from posting elite RB1 numbers. The fantasy MVP is completely matchup-proof thanks to his insane receiving workload. CMC caught multiple cheap receptions with just a few minutes left despite trailing three touchdowns on Sunday, a near-weekly tradition that’s given CMC an unheard of floor. McCaffrey is now on pace for 106 receptions and 894 receiving yards. A home game against the Seahawks awaits.
NFL Betting Trends
Seattle
The Seahawks have covered in four of their last five games overall and are 10-3 against the number in their last 13 road games.
Carolina
The Panthers are just 2-5 at the betting window in their last seven home games and are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games overall.
Prediction
I see plenty of value in taking the home dog today. Without Clowney, the Seahawks don’t posses much of a pass rush and the Panthers do have weapons offensively, starting with McCaffrey. That said, this is also a horrible matchup for Carolina. The Panthers rank dead last in Football Outsiders’ run DVOA metric and the Seahawks own the No. 3 rushing offense in the NFL. If Seattle establishes its run game, it opens the passing attack for Russell Wilson, who is a big play waiting to happen on every snap. If Seattle runs the ball like it wants to, it’ll control time of possession, build a lead and then put Carolina into obvious passing situations, which will aid the Seahawks. The Falcons accomplished that same feat last Sunday and blew out Carolina, 40-20. Thus, as reluctant as I am to lay a touchdown with a Seattle team with a rather pedestrian defense, I’ll lean on the matchup and the fact that the Panthers seemingly gave up on their season weeks ago.
NFL Week 15 Prediction: Seattle Seahawks -6
