Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Week 3: Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks betting picks, preview

By Griffin Carroll | Last updated 9/21/23

Bryce Young is out of this Week 3 matchup, which figures to make it an even rougher go on what has already been a tough start for the Panthers. Seattle is likely playing with a bit more confidence after its big win in Detroit. Is it best we just follow momentum?

Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Betting Odds

Spread: Seattle -6, Over/under: 41.5 points, Carolina +215 | Seattle -265

This Carolina offense does not look pretty at this point. With Bryce Young out this week and Andy Dalton stepping in, it's hard to see it getting much better. The Panthers rank 30th in points per game, 28th in yards per game, 31st in points per play and 25th in third down conversion percentage. The eye test definitely backs up the stats, this has not been a pleasant team to watch, fueling their 0-2 start.

Seattle started off the year with a surprising loss to the Rams, but after seeing Los Angeles hang with San Francisco in Week 2, perhaps that loss isn't as bad as we originally thought. Seattle followed it up with a massive OT win over Detroit, who was riding high off their Week 1 upset over the Chiefs.

Seattle is 1-1 ATS and 1-1 to the over, while Carolina is 0-1-1 ATS and 0-2 to the over.

Betting Picks for Carolina vs. Seattle

Seahawks -6 (-125 DraftKings)

The Seahawks are definitely the better team, and there appears to be some rushing advantages at play here that should benefit Kenneth Walker big time. That will ease the load on Geno Smith and open up more spots in the passing game, and with LB Shaq Thompson out for the year for the Panthers, it's easy to see a world where the Seahawks dominate time of possession and control this game start to finish.

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While the Seattle defense is no juggernaut, they don't need to be to limit this Carolina offense. As we already touched on, this Panthers team is not getting anything going. Dalton went just 6-8 as a starter last year, often failing to generate the explosive passing plays that are the only Seahawks weakness we're seeing.

We'll rock with the better team in what could be an ugly game. We'd back Seattle here to win 21-13.

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