Seahawks are 6.5 point favorites over Panthers

[Messiah]

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/las-vegas/

Seriously, is this a joke?

[Everlong]

Game's in Seattle, right?

I'd bet on Seahawks by a touchdown, for sure.

[lyonssv]

I don't see the problem with this. I'd probably take Seattle by a TD at least.

[Messiah]

Game's in Seattle, right?

I'd bet on Seahawks by a touchdown, for sure.

Even when Seattle was a dominant team, every time they played Carolina it came down to the last minute.

In 2014, they won 13-9 after a Luke Willson touchdown with 47 seconds left.
In 2013, they won 12-7 after a Jermaine Kearse touchdown in the 4th quarter. Panthers were at Seattle's 8 yard line when DeAngelo Williams inexplicably fumbled.
In 2012, they won 16-12. Newton misfired on a wide open touchdown pass in the redzone in the final minutes of the game.

It's like a lot of people think the Panthers suck. Their defense has been great for years now and the games against Seattle are always a low-scoring, defensive battle. Even in the playoff game, the score was 10-14 entering the 4th quarter. And now the Seahawks aren't even as good as they were before.

Seahawks owns us in the win/loss column and I fully expect us to lose Sunday, but a 6.5 point spread just seems like disrespect. I hope the Panthers beat the shit out of Seattle, but I know it won't happen. We'll find a way to painfully lose the game like we always do against the Seahawks.

[Messiah]

I don't see the problem with this. I'd probably take Seattle by a TD at least.

You don't see a problem with a 2-3 team having a 6.5 point spread over a 4-0 team, one they have historically had a difficult time putting away?

People are seriously underrating the Panthers.

[Everlong]

The Seahawks are a more talented team playing at home, where they historically play quite well, with their backs against the wall. They're still getting some benefit of the doubt for last year. They also just played one of the top three teams in the league really tough in their own stadium and built a 17 pt fourth quarter lead (which they promptly choked away, but still).

The Panthers are good. But they're far more of an unknown quantity than the Seahawks. I don't think Seattle blows them out, but I don't think a TD at home is unreasonable.

[Messiah]

I don't think them winning by a touchdown at home is unreasonable either. I don't think the Broncos beating the Packers at home by a touchdown is unreasonable either, a 6.5 spread for Denver would still be ridiculous though.

Also, I'm not all that convinced Seattle is the more talented team. Panthers have the better OL, Olsen/Graham is a wash but Olsen has been more of a factor than Graham so far, Newton has looked better than Wilson this year, better interior defensive line and depth, better linebackers (especially if Kuechly is cleared), and right now Carolina has the better CBs. Seattle's CB depth has been destroyed and while Sherman is great, the Panthers have Norman, Tillman, and Benwikere.

I think a lot of it is people still giving the Seahawks the benefit of the doubt rather than actually judging how they have played. Which I understand, but the Seahawks as a team this year has looked lackluster. Their offense sucks and they might have the worst OL in the game while now having to deal with a ferocious front seven. It seems if we're actually judging how the two teams have looked on the field this year, I don't really get the 6.5 point spread in favor of the Seahawks.

[Everlong]

^The big issue is I think people see the Seahawks have a much higher ceiling than the Panthers, and just haven't come close to hitting it. Meanwhile, the perception is the Panthers have played above their capabilities given the dearth of talent on their offense.

Which is more likely to last... the Panthers playing above their level, or the Seahawks playing below theirs?

Hard to say.

[DBSoT]

Seattle's offensive line can pass block anyone. I wouldn't make them a 6.5 point favorite over any team with a solid pass rush. With that said, I always trust Vegas. They somehow seem to get really close a high % of the time.

[The Legend]

You are looking at this the wrong way Messiah. I'm guessing 6.5-point favorites is probably the closest line the Seahawks will have at home this year. It's less about disrespect for the Panthers and more about over-respect that Seattle has earned/received at home.

[Messiah]

You are looking at this the wrong way Messiah. I'm guessing 6.5-point favorites is probably the closest line the Seahawks will have at home this year. It's less about disrespect for the Panthers and more about over-respect that Seattle has earned/received at home.

True.

Fuck the Seahawks and Russell Wilson though, my hate overrides logic.

[Messiah]

LMAO