Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers Wild Card Prediction & Odds - 1/10/2026
Updated January 8, 2026
Updated January 8, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers will meet in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Carolina took an unorthodox path to the NFC South title and the playoffs, while the Rams look to advance as the top-seeded Wild Card team in the NFC. Here, I take a closer look at this matchup in the NFC and give you my Rams vs Panthers prediction in the Wild Card round.
Pick: | Panthers +10 |
Confidence: | 4/5 |
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Odds | Line |
|---|---|
Spread | Rams -10 |
Moneyline | Rams -600, Panthers +440 |
Total | 46.5 points |
This NFC Wild Card rematch features the Rams riding into Charlotte after a successful 12-5 season, where they clinched the NFC's fifth seed. But the Rams lost to the Panthers in their first meeting this season, with Los Angeles' defense struggling to get stops in that contest. The passing game of the Rams is nothing short of elite, but a poor showing from the Rams on defense against the Panthers this time could end their season.
The Panthers are in the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons thanks to a division title despite having an 8-9 record in the regular season. Carolina lost their Week 18 game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which temporarily put the Bucs ahead of the Panthers. But the Falcons' win over the Saints on Sunday gave the Panthers the division title via a three-team tiebreaker. Carolina’s 31-28 regular-season win over Los Angeles showed they can compete with this opponent, but that performance may be the outlier as the Rams get their win back in the playoffs.
The Rams rely on veteran Matthew Stafford, who has been effective throughout the season, including his performance in Week 18 that helped secure the fifth seed. The MVP candidate threw for 259 yards against the Cardinals in that contest. Stafford’s leadership and playoff experience give Los Angeles a distinct advantage.
Carolina’s Bryce Young remains a dynamic playmaker capable of explosive plays, but inconsistency and a lack of experience in pressure moments could cause Carolina problems here. Young’s experience in the regular-season win over the Rams suggests he can handle this defense specifically, but things can change wildly from one game to the next in the NFL.
Score Projection: Rams 27 — Panthers 20
Win Probability: Rams 72%, Panthers 28%
I think that the Rams will win this game and advance to the Divisional playoffs. But I also expect the Panthers to cover the spread as a double-digit underdog. Carolina proved it can move the ball against the Rams, and this game should remain somewhat competitive, even if the Rams should eventually move on.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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