Rams vs Panthers NFL Wild Card Picks

After a long and grueling NFL season, the postseason gets underway with Super Wild Card Weekend on Saturday, with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Carolina Panthers in a fascinating NFC matchup. The game will be played in Charlotte, at Bank of America Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:30 PM ET on FOX. This contest features a Rams team looking to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2022, while the Panthers are looking to spring the upset as a double-digit home underdog. 

With both teams looking to make a statement on this massive stage, let’s dive into our expert’s Rams vs Panthers predictions and best bets for this Wild Card Weekend showdown.

Rams vs Panthers Predictions

• Pick #1 - Los Angeles Rams -10.5 (-110) Click Here to Bet
• Pick #2 - Under 46.5 Total Points (-110) Click Here to Bet
• Pick #3 - Davante Adams Under 4.5 Receptions (-145) Click Here to Bet

PICK #1: Rams -10.5 (-110) Click Here to Bet

We saw this matchup a few months ago, and it produced a Panthers victory in what was one of the more statistically improbable results of the season. In fact, it took a whopping three turnovers from Rams QB Matthew Stafford, including a pick six, for Carolina to pull off the upset over what was a Rams team that was clearly taking their opponent a bit lightly. That certainly won’t be the case this time around, as the Rams should be focused and ready to make the necessary adjustments needed to dominate a greatly inferior opponent. 

Even outside of the uncharacteristic turnovers from Stafford, the Rams defense allowed over 350 yards to a Panthers offense that has largely been unremarkable all season long (26th in EPA per play and 21st in success rate). It was the worst performance of the season by the Los Angeles defense, which makes it hard to believe that we won’t see a markedly better performance from Sean McVay’s team. Let’s back the Rams to call on their championship experience and dominate the rematch against the Panthers on Saturday.

PICK #2: Under 46.5 Total Points (-110) Click Here to Bet

The first meeting between these teams produced 59 total points, but as previously mentioned, there were a myriad of improbable events — most of which came from the Rams — that contributed to those points. Carolina was also extremely successful on third and long, which is not something that we expect will be replicated on Saturday.

We can expect Los Angeles to dictate the pace of play in this game via the rushing attack, and given the fact that Carolina’s rushing attack is in the tank and the Panthers will likely need to rely on QB Bryce Young throwing the ball to keep them in the game, that’s not a recipe for success for the underdogs in this game. Ultimately, the Under is the only way we can look on Saturday. 

PICK #3: Davante Adams Under 4.5 Receptions (-145) Click Here to Bet

In the first meeting between these two teams, Rams WR Davante Adams was a shining star, as he racked up four receptions for 58 yards and a pair of touchdowns in that game. However, we’re not projecting much of a workload for Adams this time out, especially since the veteran wideout is returning from a hamstring injury that the Rams will surely like to have fully healed for a game against a much tougher team next week.

The Panthers don’t defend the run well or stop tight ends in the passing game, so let’s bank on this matchup being one where Adams doesn’t get many targets in what could be a convincing Los Angeles victory.