Not surprisingly, few in the national media are picking the Panthers to beat the Seahawks. While that likely irks many Carolina fans, you really can’t blame those who are going with the defending Super Bowl champs at a place they rarely lose. And for what it’s worth, most prognosticators aren’t biting on the double-digit line and think the game will be close.As of late Friday night, four national folks had picked the Panthers: Brad Gagnon of CBS Sports and Bleacher Report, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, Will Brinson of CBS Sports and Sterling Sharpe on NFL Network.This site has an extensive list of picks from others, and here’s a sample of what some are saying:[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Brad Gagnon, CBS Sports”]”I know how hard it is to win in Seattle, but I’m not convinced that Seahawks’ offense can solve a red-hot Carolina defense and I’m wondering if the Seahawks might trip up on a sneaky-good opponent. If [Cam] Newton is on his game, Carolina can win here. I’m rolling the dice on that.”Pick: PanthersLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Bleacher Report Experts”]Pick: Gagnon and Mike Freeman pick Panthers, 14 others pick SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”CBS Sports Experts”]Pick: Will Brinson picks Panthers, seven pick SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Elliot Harrison, NFL.com”]”I like the Panthers to make this a heckuva game. Shoot, it might be 7-3 for the majority of three quarters. Ultimately, give Seattle’s home crowd the nod — the 12’s truly give their team a leg up.”Pick: SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Pete Prisco, CBS Sports”]”Like [Russell] Wilson, Cam Newton can be dangerous on the move. In the end, I think Seattle will pull this out to get to the title game. Like the last three between these teams, it won’t be easy.”Pick: SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Don Banks, SI.com”]”It’s indisputable that the Panthers have shown a knack for playing the Seahawks tough, with their three meetings over the span of the past three seasons being decided by a combined margin of just 13 points. But two other points are also inescapable: Seattle has found a way to win all three of those games in gritty, comeback fashion, and all of them have been played in Charlotte, not the noise machine known as CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks have won their last four games by an average of 15.3 points per outing.”Pick: SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Doug Farrar, SI.com”]”The question in this game will be whether Carolina’s estimable defense can stop Marshawn Lynch as a runner. Even if it can do that, it still has to account for [Russell] Wilson, who gained 849 yards on the ground in the regular season. If the Panthers can do that and contain Seattle’s receivers with a primarily zone-based defense, they have a shot at the upset. But this is a Seahawks team on a serious momentum surge, and the combination of that and home-field advantage just appears to be too much.”Pick: SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Pro Football Talk”]”For the first time ever, the post-Fox Panthers get a taste of Seattle. While the Panthers may be able to cover the double-digit spread, they won’t be able to advance.” – Mike FlorioPick: Florio and Michael David Smith pick SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report”]”The Panthers defense is built to stop what the Seahawks do best, and the Seattle passing game, with its shortage of playmakers, is not designed to exploit the inexperience and lack of depth in the Carolina secondary. Hence, a pair of games where the first team to double digits won. It’s up to the Panthers offense to make sure that the Seahawks cannot win with exactly one offensive highlight, like they did in the last two meetings.”Pick: SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News”]”The Panthers’ only chance is to make this one just as ugly, which is possible, given the way their defense has been playing.But that defense will get a huge wake-up call after playing the dormant Cardinals with no quarterback or running game. The Seahawks with Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch are a different challenge all together.”Pick: SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”Showtime’s ‘Inside the NFL'”]”It’s all about two seasons. The one in September and October doesn’t matter. November and December is the one that counts. Right now the Carolina Panthers are hot, but it’s hard to win on the road, so I’ve got to go with the Seattle Seahawks.” — Brandon MarshallPick: Marshall, Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason all pick SeahawksLink[accordion_item open=”true” title=”ESPN Experts”]Pick: All 13 pick Seahawks.Link[/accordion]
6 thoughts on “What They’re Saying: Panthers Vs. Seahawks Predictions”
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If we can get Cam, KB, and Olsen going early we can win this.
If we can get Cam, KB, and Olsen going early we can win this.
Seahawks -11.5 right now…no respect!!! The offense needs a quick start tonight.
Seahawks -11.5 right now…no respect!!! The offense needs a quick start tonight.
BlackBlueReview considering what a strange season it had been, I wouldn’t be surprised if we blow em out 33-3. #NFCSEXY
BlackBlueReview considering what a strange season it had been, I wouldn’t be surprised if we blow em out 33-3. #NFCSEXY