Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers: betting odds, preview, matchup, pick

Seattle bettors hope to continue profiting on their team as an underdog in Week 5, as the Seahwks visit Carolina to take on the Panthers.

In 14 games as an underdog, Seattle is a moneymaking 11-2-1 ATS, making the 3-point NFL betting line a tempting one.

They still need to prove that they can win on the road. As has been the case for years, it has been a tale of two seasons at home and on the road so far for Seattle. At home, Seattle is 2-0 SU and ATS with wins over Dallas and Green Bay.

On the road, the Seahawks are 0-2 SU and ATS with losses to Arizona and St. Louis. Over their last 25 road games, the Seahawks are just 7-17-1 ATS, and are 3-11 straight up in their last 14 road games.

Carolina had a strong effort in covering the spread last week as a 7-point underdog at Atlanta, but the Panthers were unable to come away with the outright upset in the 30-28 loss. The Panthers are now 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS, with their one straight up win coming at home against the winless New Orleans Saints.

Cam Newton is having a solid season overall, but the offense has fluttered in losses to Tampa Bay (16-10) and New York (36-7).

On paper, the key to this game could be on defense. Not much separates Seattle's 17.5 points per game from Carolina's 20 points per game on offense, but Seattle's 14.5 points per game against is nearly two touchdowns better than Carolina's 27.3.

Of course, the on paper stats don't reflect how night-and-day Seattle is at home and on the road.

With that said, since the start of the 2010 season, Carolina is 6-12 SU at home and 4-5 ATS as a home favorite. Seattle's outstanding rushing defense (allowing just 62.8 rushing yards per game) should help to contain Cam Newton, and Carolina's terrible rushing defense (allowing 134.8 yards per game) could spring a big day from Marshawn Lynch.

Despite the road woes, Seattle should get the job done this Sunday.

PICK: Seattle +3 (courtesy of PickShark.com)