Sharp bettors side with experienced Seahawks vs. Panthers

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles away from Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23) in the second half of a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) in the second half of a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Fifteen wins later, the Carolina Panthers still have few believers in the betting market. Cam Newton can change that, but he will have to beat a team that reached the past two Super Bowls.

The Panthers are favored by 2 to 2½ points over Seattle today in an NFC divisional playoff game. Why is a 15-1 home team not even laying a full field goal? A majority of sharp bettors are siding with the Seahawks.

“It’s kind of weird. The public and some sharps are betting Seattle, but a lot of parlays are accumulating on the Panthers,” MGM Resorts sports book director Jay Rood said. “We’re going to be pulling for the Panthers. Basically, it’s the best two-way action game of the weekend, but it’s starting to pull away a little bit for the Seahawks.”

It’s a rematch and a showdown between two of the NFL’s hottest quarterbacks. Newton led Carolina to an 11-5 record against the spread. Russell Wilson has helped Seattle win seven of its past eight games. When the teams met Oct. 18, Newton’s late touchdown pass lifted the Panthers to a 27-23 win as 7-point road underdogs.

“I like the Panthers,” Rood said. “I just get the feeling the Seahawks are running lucky, and that might continue, but I don’t think they have got the hammer that they had the past couple of years. Cam is going to make big plays, and I think Cam is going to be the big difference.”

All four road teams advanced on wild-card weekend, but New England stopped the trend Saturday. The Patriots closed as 5½-point favorites in a 27-20 victory over Kansas City.

“We got some money on the Pats right at kickoff, but we were also getting a ton of Kansas City money all morning,” Rood said. “We needed New England.”

Arizona closed as a 7-point home favorite over Green Bay in Saturday’s second game. Rood said a large number of teasers and money-line parlays linked the Cardinals with the Broncos.

Denver is a 7½-point home favorite over Pittsburgh in today’s finale, with the winner facing the Patriots in the AFC title game. Another Tom Brady-Peyton Manning duel appears likely. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is hindered by a shoulder injury and will be without top wide receiver Antonio Brown and leading rusher DeAngelo Williams.

“Every teaser and parlay is going through the Broncos,” Rood said. “We’re going to need Big Ben to go out there and do something. Everybody is focusing on their offense, but the Pittsburgh defense can wreak havoc and rattle Manning. There are worse positions to be in than needing the Steelers.”

— Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL NFL CHALLENGE

Final standings

Doug Fitz

Systemplays.com

Season: 47-37-1

Allen Leiker

Review-Journal

Season: 45-39-1

Dave Tuley

ESPN.com

Season: 45-40