CAROLINA (12-5 SU/7-10 ATS) at ST. LOUIS (12-4 SU/9-6-1 ATS)
The Panthers and the Rams square off in an NFC Divisional Playoff game in St. Louis. Carolina is off a 29-10 win over the Cowboys last week as -3 point favorites. QB Jake Delhomme completed 18-of-29 passes for 273 yards with a touchdown pass and no interceptions, John Kasay tied an NFL-playoff record with five field goals and Steve Smith hauled in five receptions for 135 yards and a TD in the win. Stephen Davis also ran for 104 yards and a TD as the Panthers advanced in the playoffs. Carolina dominated the game with edges in total "O" (380-204), first downs (16-10) and time of possession (34:23 to 25:37). The Panthers finished the season with a respectable 11-5 SU mark, but they were not a good ATS as they went just 6-10 against the number in the regular season. The Carolina offense ranks 16th in the NFL with a 321 ypg average and is led by Delhomme, RB Stephen Davis and WR's Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad. Delhomme finished the season as the 14th-rated passer in the NFL by completing 266-of-449 passes for 3,219 yards with 19 TD's and 16 picks. Davis ended the season ranked 7th in rushing in the NFL with 1,444 yards and 8 TD's. Smith and Muhammad combined for 142 receptions for 1,947 yards and 10 TD's. Defensively, the Panthers rank 8th in the NFL, allowing 295 ypg. The Rams had a bye last week, but ended the regular season on a sour note as they lost at Detroit 30-20 in the season finale as -12½ point road chalks. The Rams offense ranks 9th in the NFL with a 341 ypg average and is led by QB Marc Bulger, RB Marshall Faulk and WR Terry Holt. Bulger completed 336-of-532 passes for 3,845 yards with 22 TD's and 22 picks on the season. When he was healthy this year, Faulk ran for 818 yards and 10 TD's, while Holt had 117 receptions for 1,696 yards and 12 TD's. Defensively, the Rams rank 16th in the NFL, yielding 315 ypg. These two teams have met just twice in recent times, both in 2001, with St. Louis winning 38-32 at Carolina as -12½ point road chalks and 48-14 as -20 point favorites. But that was a much different Carolina team, finishing the 2001 season with a 1-15 record. The Panthers were 7-10 ATS this season, but do come in 4-2 ATS lately when installed as a dog (51-35 ATS as a dog, overall). The Rams were undefeated at home this season, as they went 8-0 SU and 6-1-1 ATS. The underdog is 13-4 ATS in Carolina's last 17 games, but the home team is 10-3 ATS in St. Louis' last 13 games. Carolina has had a fine season, but they are not an elite team by any means. The task at hand will be too much for the Panthers to handle against the rested Rams. Lay the points.
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