Carolina (-3) hosts Arizona in NFC Championship Game
From Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday afternoon, the NFC Championship Game kicks off when the Carolina Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals for the right to play in Super Bowl 50. The current line has Carolina favored by 3 points with the over/under point total at 47.5.
This season, Arizona is 7-1 straight up and 6-2 against the spread on the road. Over their past 10 games played, the Cardinals are 9-1 SU and 5-5 ATS. Carolina on the season is 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS at home. Over their past 10 games played, the Panthers are 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS.
Carolina finished the regular season with the best record in the NFL including a perfect 8-0 at home, and added a 9th straight home win with a 31-24 victory last weekend over Seattle. Last season Carolina defeated Arizona in the playoffs 27-16, but the Cardinals used a third-string quarterback.
Last weekend, Arizona went to overtime to win 26-20 over the Green Bay Packers. The Cardinals have the No. 2 scoring offense in the league averaging 30.5 points a game, while Carolina is No. 1 averaging 31.3 points per game.
The high-powered Arizona offense has sputtered of late, scoring just 6 points in the final game of the regular season against Seattle and 10 points through the first three quarters against Green Bay last week.
Carson Palmer the star quarterback for the Cardinals said he was tentative during the first half versus the Packers, but threw for 275 yards during the second half to finish with 349 on the game.
Larry Fitzgerald caught 8 passes for Arizona last week for 176 yards including the winning touchdown.
Carolina led Seattle last week 31-0 at the half, before holding off the Seahawks late in the game to win 31-24. Jonathan Stewart ran for 106 yards with two touchdowns after returning from an injury where he missed three games.
The defense for Carolina dominated the Seattle offense up front and had five sacks. However, Jared Allen a defensive end might not play because of a slight fracture in his foot.
The Cardinals are 7-1 on the road and have won 5 consecutive road games.
Carolina is attempting to become the 9th team to play in the Super Bowl with one or fewer losses.
The host team has covered the spread in the past 4 games between the two teams.
Prediction: Arizona has played well all season, while Carolina has been the top team going 16-1 thus far. However, in the pressure of playing in an NFC title game, I see Carolina cracking a bit and allowing Arizona in. Take the Cards and the points.
