Panthers vs. 49ers MNF Odds, Prediction: Carolina Has Bite as Live Road Dog Tonight

The resurgent Carolina Panthers collide with the San Francisco 49ers tonight on Monday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN.

The Panthers opened the season 1-3, but have since gone 5-2 in their last seven games. With a win tonight, Carolina would vault into first place in the NFC South. The Panthers have been one of the NFL’s better teams against the spread, too, going 7-4-0 this season.

The 49ers (7-4 SU, 6-5 ATS) have failed to cover in both games as a home favorite so far this year. They’ll get another chance tonight, with DraftKings dealing San Francisco as a 7.5-point favorite and a total of 49.5. As of this publication, 60% of the spread handle is on Carolina. DraftKings has seen solid two-action with 52% of tickets on San Francisco.

Best Bet Panthers vs. 49ers: Against the Spread

Carolina +7.5 (-112 at DraftKings)

The Panthers are coming off a 30-27 OT win against the Falcons. Quarterback Bryce Young turned in his finest performance as a pro with 448 passing yards, three TDs, and no interceptions. WR Tetairoa McMillan did likewise with a career-best 130 receiving yards and two TDs.

RB Rico Dowdle is now the unquestioned RB1 for Carolina. Dowdle gains five yards per carry and leads the team with six total TDs.

Now, the Panthers face a San Francisco defense that’s been ravaged by injuries. Standouts Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Mykell Williams are all out for the season. The 49ers have allowed 29.3 points in each of their last three games.

San Francisco still has an offense that can compensate, with former Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey leading the way. “CMC” ranks second in the league and behind only Colts RB Jonathon Taylor with 1,439 yards from scrimmage this season. McCaffrey leads the 49ers with 11 total TDs.

QB Brock Purdy (toe) is back to full strength after throwing for 200 yards and three TDs in last week’s 41-22 win over Arizona. TE George Kittle and WR Jauan Jennings are also key cogs on offense.

We’re expecting a back-and-forth affair tonight with Carolina losing by no more than a touchdown. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Panthers win outright, either.

Best Player Prop for Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young OVER 1.5 Passing TDs (+126 at FanDuel)

San Francisco has one of the league’s worst passing defenses, largely due to the key injuries referenced above. They have the least amount of sacks (12) and struggle to put pressure on the quarterback.

We’re not expecting another career game for Young, but two passing TDs should be in reach. San Francisco only has three interceptions this season, and its secondary is suspect. The 49ers rank near the bottom of the NFL with 21 passing TDs allowed this year.

Best Player Prop for San Francisco 49ers

Christian McCaffrey OVER 45.5 Receiving Yards (-112 at FanDuel)

McCaffrey remains the NFL’s best pass catcher out of the backfield. He’s exceeded this number in nine of 11 games this season.

He leads the 49ers in every receiving metric that matters:

• 74 catches
• 96 targets
• 732 yards
• 5 TDs*

*tied with George Kittle

Take a look at FanDuel’s alternate receiving yard totals, too. You can play CMC to have 60+ receiving yards at +182 odds and 70+ at +280 odds. Those thresholds are well within reach for a player who’s cracked 60 yards in seven of 11 games and 70 on five occasions.