49ers vs Panthers NFL Football Spread/Handicapping
San Francisco may very well be the best Wild Card team ever but if they are going to make it back to the Super Bowl they will have to beat Carolina, something they couldn’t get done in the regular season.
San Francisco 49ers (13-4) vs. Carolina Panthers (12-4)
Sunday January 12
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
1:05PM
Moneyline: San Francisco -120, Carolina +100
Spread: Pick
O/U: 41
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This time they will try and do it on the road against a rested team though I am not sure the Panthers will have the advantage and all of that that extra time might not be a benefit to a group of players not used to the intensity of the playoffs.
San Francisco
The 49ers beat the Packers again last week but it was far from a romp, winning on a last second field goal. Other than advancing it was nice to seek QB Colin Kaepernick have another good game because he is going to need all the confidence he can muster coming into a game against a defense that shut him down more than any other during the regular season.
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Last week against Green Bay the 49ers defense really made it difficult for QB Aaron Rodgers. They limited his completion percentage and took the big play away from Green Bay as he completed just two passes all game for more than 20 yards. They could have done better against the running game but they didn’t allow any big plays there either.
To win this time around they just need to play the solid defense they always do and have CK make a couple of big plays. The last time these two teams met he gave them nothing on offense and they didn’t even score a touchdown.
Carolina
The Panthers were one of the most impressive teams in the league this year. After a rough start they rattled off a huge win streak based on fantastic defense and an opportunistic offense…but things are different in the playoffs and they are hosting a team that knows exactly what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl.
If they are going to win it is going to take another great defensive performance to beat San Francisco. They are certainly capable of that but I have doubts whether they can put up the 17 or 21 points it probably will take to win this one…and I definitely think that the 49ers have an edge in the coaching department where there has to be an inkling to try and tinker with the formula a little too much by Ron Rivera, especially with an extra week to prepare.
Winning in the playoffs is about execution not trickery. This team has to stick with what got them to this point.
Spread Pick: San Francisco
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: San Francisco 27 – Carolina 17
