Seahawks vs Panthers

Sam Darnold brings the 12-3 Seahawks into Charlotte on a four-game win streak, while Bryce Young’s Panthers have steadied to 8-7 after a narrow loss in New Orleans and a 23-20 home win over Tampa Bay to grab the NFC South lead. Seattle has already clinched a playoff berth and currently holds the NFC’s top seed, so motivation to finish off a conference opponent is high, and Darnold’s 2025 efficiency (over 3,700 passing yards with a triple‑digit passer rating) paired with Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s league‑leading production outside gives them a clear offensive ceiling edge, even with starting left tackle Charles Cross and safety Coby Bryant banged up and edge rusher Derick Hall suspended. Carolina’s home field and Young’s improved late‑season form make an upset possible, but with Seattle 10-5 against the spread and 3-1 in the last four head‑to‑head meetings while the Panthers still deal with front‑seven and linebacker injuries, the talent gap plus quarterback advantage justify eating the steep -350 price despite modest value. I’m grading Seahawks moneyline a **B**: high win probability, but the juice limits the overall appeal compared to other ways to back Seattle. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 26/12/2025 11:46

With Darnold piloting a top‑tier passing attack that leans heavily on an explosive JSN‑led receiving corps and Carolina riding Young’s recent surge (five touchdowns and no picks over his last two games) to stay atop a soft NFC South, this matchup has the ingredients for both offenses to trade scores into the mid‑20s despite Seattle’s otherwise strong defensive profile. Seattle’s recent results have shown wide scoring variance, but their comeback shootout with the Rams plus Carolina’s 31-28 win over Los Angeles and 23-20 grinder vs. Tampa suggest that when game script forces Young to stay aggressive, the Panthers can keep pace enough to push totals past the low‑40s, especially with Seattle’s secondary nicked up and the Panthers’ defensive front missing multiple pieces. The outdoor setting in Charlotte should be mild rather than a weather drag, and with both teams playing for major seeding and division stakes, a conservative, clock‑killing script from either side feels unlikely once the scoring starts. I’ll lean to **Over 42.5 at -110** with a **B-** grade: the number is close to fair, but the combination of quarterback play, downfield weapons, and late‑season urgency tilts this slightly toward a higher‑scoring contest. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 26/12/2025 11:46

Against the number, I prefer to ride Seattle’s -7 given their 10-5 ATS record and recent ability to separate late in games, even acknowledging the cross‑country trip and early‑window kickoff. The Seahawks’ four‑game surge has included wins over quality opposition, highlighted by the historic 38-37 comeback against the Rams, and their offensive trio of Darnold, Smith‑Njigba, and a healthy Kenneth Walker poses a harder matchup for Carolina’s defense than most recent opponents, particularly with the Panthers still managing injuries at linebacker and in the interior defensive line. Young’s progression and Carolina’s 8-6 ATS mark mean this isn’t an automatic blowout, but Seattle’s superior depth, better overall efficiency, and strong recent form in high‑leverage spots make it more likely they win by multiple scores than that the Panthers keep this inside a touchdown, especially if protection issues resurface behind a still‑shuffled Panthers offensive line. Laying the -7 at -118 gets a **B+** from me: more risk than the moneyline, but a significantly better payout for a game script that still strongly favors a Seahawks win in the 7–14 point range. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 26/12/2025 11:46