Carolina Panthers vs Los Angeles Rams odds, predictions, and betting tips – Rams biggest favourites of the Wild Card Round

In the Wild Card round, the No. 4-seed Carolina Panthers, the winners of the NFC South, are hosting the No. 5-seed Los Angeles Rams in a Week 13 rematch.

In Week 13, the Panthers escaped with a win, also at home, 31-28. 

Let’s check out this Wild Card round edition of the NFL in more detail below.

Panthers vs Rams best bets

• Chuba Hubbard under 8.5 receiving yards – 17/20 with BetMGM
• Puka Nacua anytime TD – 23/25 with BetMGM
• Tyler Higbee under 24.5 receiving yards – 17/20 with BetMGM

The Carolina Panthers may be the higher seed, but that’s only because they won their division. In fact, they won in one of the most unique ways I’ve ever seen. After losing in Week 18 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both teams were 8-9.

After the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game, though, the Falcons won and also moved to 8-9. This left a three-way tiebreaker, but the Panthers won the tiebreaker as they went 3-1 over the season against the Buccaneers and Falcons, while the Buccaneers went 2-2.

Now, they host a team in the Rams that they did manage to beat earlier this season, but they’re also the biggest underdogs of the Wild Card round, with the Rams favoured by 10.5 points. 

The Rams enter this game as the No. 5 seed, moving to this slot after the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Seattle Seahawks and the Rams won their Week 18 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford made a last-minute push for the NFL MVP award, throwing for 259 yards and four touchdowns in that game. He finished the regular season with a 12-5 record, 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. 

Panthers vs Rams preview

As mentioned, the Panthers beat the Rams 31-28 in Week 13 at their place, but there are few caveats to consider. 

First, the game had some bad weather. At one point, it was raining monsoon levels of precipitation. Additionally, Stafford threw two interceptions. One of them was a ball that was deflected at the line of scrimmage and went floating in the air, and the other was a pick-six. 

That being said, I think 10 points is too many for this game. 

I believe the Rams win, but the Panthers have a noticeable advantage with their receivers versus the Rams’ defensive backs. 

The Panthers have a few wide receivers, like Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Tetairoa McMillan, who are tall and big-bodied. Part of the game plan for the Panthers and head coach Dave Canales in this game needs to be finding ways to get those players in one-on-one matchups, throw it up, and just hope they win more 50/50 balls than they lose. 

Canales has shown to be a more than competent offensive play caller, and while I think they lose, they’ll keep it within 10.

Panthers vs Rams tips

Find the latest odds for the Carolina Panthers vs the Los Angeles Rams courtesy of BetMGM. Odds are subject to change.

It’s difficult to beat the same team twice, and I think these odds reflect that. As mentioned, some unique circumstances helped the Panthers win, but this current spread reflects that variance not being there, and it also gives a bunch of credit to Stafford and his MVP-level play.

I’ll still take the Panthers, but given that they’re 8-9 and coming off some tough games, this spread makes sense. 

Chuba Hubbard under 8.5 receiving yards

Hubbard has had more than nine receiving yards in just six games this season. The most receiving yards he’s had in a game did come against the Rams in Week 13, but both of his catches came against Cover-6, which is a coverage that the Rams hardly ever utilise. 

He’s finished with nine receiving yards or fewer in eight of his last 10 games. 

Take the under.

Tip Chuba Hubbard to have 8 receiving yards or fewer against the Rams at 17/20 with BetMGM

Puka Nacua anytime TD

Nacua finished the regular season with a 28.6% target share on the Rams, catching 129 of 166 passes for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns. That target share is up to 30.6% over the last three games, which were without wide receiver Davante Adams over that span. 

While Adams is back, Nacua is Stafford’s go-to target, and he will continue to be here. 

The Panthers primarily play Cover-3, and Nacua leads the Rams in target share versus that coverage at 34.6% and leads the team in touchdowns.

Back Puka Nacua to have a touchdown against the Rams at 23/25 with BetMGM

Tyler Higbee under 24.5 receiving yards

Higbee returned in Week 1 and had a fantastic game, going for over 90 yards and catching a touchdown. However, I don’t think he repeats that success here. 

He finished third on the team in target share, below fellow tight end Colby Parkinson, and now, Adams is back in the lineup. 

Furthermore, from Weeks 1 to 11 before Higbee got hurt, he was fifth on the team in target share against Cover-3 at 7.3%. He had never had more than 24 yards in a game against Cover-3. 

I’ll lean under while Nacua, Adams, Parkinson, and even running back Kyren Williams get more looks. 

Tip Tyler Higbee to have 24 receiving yards or fewer against the Panthers at 17/20 with BetMGM

Panthers vs Rams injury report

Below are the key injuries to report ahead of the action.

Carolina Panthers

• Out: Robert Hunt (guard) – biceps; Brady Christensen (guard) – achilles; Ja’Tavion Sanders (tight end) – fibula; Chandler Zavala (guard) – calf; Trevin Wallace (linebacker) – shoulder; Damarri Mathis (cornerback) – knee; Jonathon Brooks (running back) – PUP.
• Questionable: Robert Rochell (cornerback) – concussion; Bobby Brown III (defensive tackle) – concussion.
• Doubtful: N/A

Los Angeles Rams

• Out: Rob Havenstein (offensive tackle) – ankle; Shaun Dolac (linebacker) – knee
• Questionable: Tyler Higbee (tight end) – ankle; Terrance Ferguson (tight end) – hamstring; Braden Fiske (defensive end) – ankle; Jordan Whittington (wide receiver) – knee; Josh Wallace (cornerback) – ankle; Kevin Dotson (guard) – ankle.
• Doubtful: N/A

Panthers vs Rams game info

• Date: Saturday 10th January
• Time: 9:30pm GMT
• Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
• Where to watch: Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports NFL

About the author

Richard Janvrin

Richard Janvrin brings nearly a decade of experience covering sports, sports betting, and everything iGaming. Richard received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism/English from the University of New Hampshire. Throughout his career, Richard has written for sites like Bleacher Report, Forbes, The Game Day, WSN, Gambling.com, and many more.

Find him on Twitter: @RichardJanvrin

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