Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers betting tips and predictions for NFL playoff

The NFL play-offs begin with the 12-5 Los Angeles Rams visiting Charlotte to face the 8-9 Carolina Panthers in the first game of the Wild Card Round.

The Panthers came out on top 31-28 in the regular season meeting between the two but lost three of their last four games of the season and are definite underdogs despite home advantage.

The Rams will be looking to reach their third Super Bowl in the last eight seasons next month and are favourites to start their postseason campaign with a win on the road.

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Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers Tips

• Tip 1: Over 46.5 Total Points @ 20/23
• Tip 2: Puka Nacua over 91.5 Receiving Yards @ 5/6
• Tip 3: Tetairoa McMillan Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ 29/20

Points total could be higher than anticipated

Matthew Stafford is the favourite for the regular season NFL MVP after spearheading the Los Angeles’ Rams dominant offense this year. The quarterback had 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in the regular season, aided by two of the best receivers in the league in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

Interestingly the worst game of Stafford’s season came against the Carolina Panthers in the Rams’ Week 13 loss, he threw two of his eight interceptions and coughed up a fumble on what would have been the game-winning drive.

Stafford will be out for revenge and should light up what is expected to be a high-scoring affair. Los Angeles’ defense have given up at least 27 points in three of their last four games and with an offense that led the league in points this season, this could be another back-and-forth battle.

The Panthers managed 358 yards when these two met in the regular season and can play their part in a game which is fancied to go over 46.5 points.

Nacua the number one target

Puka Nacua has been one of the standout receivers in the NFL this season, ranking second in receiving yards with 1,715 and leading the league in receptions with 129.

He averaged 139 yards per game in the last five outings of the regular season so is only getting better and with Davante Adams just returning from injury, the Rams may look to protect the former Green Bay wideout.

That should mean that Nacua sees even more of the ball and over 90.5 receiving yards is the pick.

McMillan could be key to hosts’ success

Tetairoa McMillan led the Carolina Panthers with seven regular season touchdowns, with five of those coming in the last seven games of the season.

Bryce Young is likely to target his star man in the red zone and he could add to his touchdown from the Week 13 meeting between these two teams.

All odds correct at time of writing.

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