Game: Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers

Date: November 24th at 8:15 PM ET

Where to Watch: ESPN

Rounding out Week 12 of the NFL season, we get a Monday Night Football matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers. Carolina has been one of the league’s surprises so far, entering this week above .500 at 6-5 after edging out the Falcons in an overtime thriller in Week 11. Offensively, they’re still near the bottom of the league—22nd in yards per game (314.3) and 28th in points per game (18.8)—but the defense has stepped up, ranking 18th in yards allowed (325.9) and 13th in points allowed (22.6).

San Francisco has also been steady, especially considering the number of games they’ve had to play with Mac Jones under center. With Brock Purdy back in the lineup—and immediately making an impact in last week’s win over Arizona—the offense looks much more dangerous. The 49ers sit 10th in total offense (349.4 yards per game) and 14th in scoring (23.7 points per game). Defensively, they’ve been a bit less consistent, allowing 352.9 yards per game (26th) and 22.9 points per game (16th).

This will be Carolina’s first primetime appearance in over two years, and it will be worth watching how they handle the spotlight—especially against a 49ers team that’s far more accustomed to it.

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Weather

Temperatures for this game will sit in the low-to-high 50s, with a 0% chance of precipitation. Winds shouldn’t play a role either, averaging around 5 mph with occasional gusts up to 7 mph.

Betting Overview

The spread in this matchup hasn’t seen much movement. It opened with the 49ers at -7, and while some books have shifted to -7.5, others have held firm. As a result, the moneyline has moved slightly further in San Francisco’s favor, with the best value sitting at +330 for Carolina and -375 for the 49ers. The total has seen the biggest change, climbing from its 46.5 opening number to 49.5.

Position Group & Coaching Comparisons

Coaching: This coaching matchup is fairly straightforward. Dave Canales has taken a big step forward this season, and Ejiro Evero continues to be a strong presence as well. However, it’s difficult to compare when you’re facing someone like Kyle Shanahan. What he and his staff consistently produce makes them one of the toughest groups in the league to scheme against.

DLs vs. OLs: Neither team boasts a dominant defensive line, but both are significantly stronger along the offensive front. Carolina will be without Cade Mays this week, yet they still feature the better overall unit, giving them the edge in this trench battle.

QBs: Bryce Young enters this matchup off the best performance of his NFL career. Even so, Brock Purdy has the stronger résumé and has shown far more week-to-week consistency throughout his career.

RBs & TEs vs. LBs: Both teams are dealing with injuries at linebacker, but the 49ers remain stronger defensively across the middle. San Francisco also holds the advantage offensively in this grouping, giving them the overall edge here.

WRs vs. Secondaries: The 49ers own the advantage in this category as well. Carolina’s receiver room is heavily top loaded, whereas San Francisco spreads its threats more evenly. The 49ers also field the stronger secondary this season.

Betting Trends

Carolina has been a strong ATS team this season at 7-4. They’ve also performed well on the road, going 4-2 overall with a 3-2 mark as an away underdog. In conference play, they’ve been impressive at 5-1 ATS. Totals in Panthers games have leaned slightly toward the over, hitting in 6 of 11 contests. On the road, totals have split 3–3, with the over hitting in 3 of 5 games as a road underdog. In NFC matchups, totals have also split evenly at 3–3.

San Francisco has posted a solid 6-5 ATS record, but they’ve struggled at home with a 1-3 mark, including 0-2 as a home favorite. In conference play they’ve been much better, going 6-3 ATS. Totals in 49ers games have leaned toward the over, which has hit in 7 of 11 contests. At home, totals have split 2–2, and split 1–1 as home favorites. In NFC games, the over has hit in 6 of 9.

Final Thoughts

With both teams entering this matchup with confidence, it’s tough to get a true read on how they’ll stack up against one another. With each defense having struggled to this point, the over feels like the strongest play here, as the spread could genuinely go either way.