If you saw the Seattle Seahawks prevail over the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card round, thanks to a missed Blair Walsh field goal, then you, plus all the major online betting sites, might be tempted to think that the Seahawks are in for a long day when they take on the Carolina Panthers this Sunday in the divisional round.
When the game kicks off at 1:05 pm Eastern time, though, this will be just as closely fought a game from beginning to end. Let’s take a closer look at the match-up.
Why Should you Bet on the Seahawks?
During the playoffs the last two seasons, the Seahawks have been able to find a higher gear that has allowed them to find ways to knock out the opposition.
One exception, of course, took place in Super Bowl XLIX, when the Seahawks found a way to lose with a boneheaded play call with time winding down and the team on the verge of scoring the game-winning touchdown against the Patriots.
Whether it’s recovering that onside kick against Green Bay after mounting a furious fourth-quarter comeback in last year’s NFC championship or finding ways to grind out just enough points against the Vikings last week, the Seahawks are a playoff-tested team that no one should count out until the clock is reading all zeroes.
Why Should You Pick the Carolina Panthers?
The Carolina Panthers have dominated teams all season long. They did go through a bit of a hiccup down the stretch, nearly losing to the Giants after leading by 28 and then blowing that lead, only to win on a last-minute field goal.
However, the consistency that the Panthers have shown over the last 14 months should be a sign of encouragement that the team has figured out how to play 60 minutes of solid football once the chips are down.
They have had a week to rest up their players and figure out how to handle the Seattle attack on both sides of the ball. At home, this could easily become Cam Newton’s biggest marquee moment so far in his career.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
Carolina is a terrific team, but the bottom line is that they are still young when it comes to figuring out how to string success together. This inexperience under the glare of playoff attention will cost them, and Seattle will win, 20-16.