The matchup that will kick off the 2025-26 NFL Wild Card round and playoffs in general presents a rematch from Week 13 of this season.
The No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams (12-5) visit the No. 4 Carolina Panthers (8-9) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Debates about seeding and homefield advantage aside, the first meeting actually went to the upstart Panthers 31-28. Rematches are always tough to bet in the playoffs, though the script doesn't always follow history.
How should we handle odds for this first-round matchup in NFL betting?
Keep scrolling to see the clearest paths to bet on Rams-Panthers in the Wild Card Playoffs.
Rams vs. Panthers betting odds
For this list, I'm using BetMGM Sportsbook odds for Rams-Panthers, current as of Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET.
I will not necessarily use these odds for finding the best bets on this NFC Wild Card game. (Learn why bettors should use multiple sportsbook apps.)
- Moneyline: Rams (-625) • Panthers (+450)
- Spread (ATS): Rams -10 (-112) • Panthers +10 (-110)
- Total: Over 46.5 (-110) • Under 46.5 (-110)
- Implied Point Totals Score: Rams 28.25, Panthers 18.25
Rams vs. Panthers best bet
Rams -10 (-110) • BetMGM Sportsbook
Read below for more betting tips on this Rams-Panthers pick.
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Rams vs. Panthers predictions and betting angles
More importantly than analyzing betting trends, which are often deployed in betting punditry universally without context, bettors should consider what angles can affect the event action and follow a betting trail from that.
Which game preview guidelines should Rams vs. Panthers bettors follow?
Davante Adams' return should elevate Rams offense
Not that Matthew Stafford needs more help, given the Rams' group of star and breakout players, but Adams' presence after his three-game absence creates the mismatches in 1-on-1 coverage meant to throw defenses off.
Trying to cover him and Puka Nacua always presents issues, and given Jaycee Horn's overall struggles in pass defense (great playmaker but inconsistent), Adams' presence should throw that defensive backfield off-kilter.
Which Matthew Stafford will show up?
Carolina relatively contained Stafford in Week 13 (243 passing yards, two scores). And while the aforementioned struggles in coverage by Horn could play into the Rams' success, this defense still ranked close to the Rams within the top 10 teams in creating interceptions (Rams 16, Panthers 15).
Mike Jackson nabbed a Pick-6 while covering Puka Nacua in the first game and has performed as one of the NFL's top cover cornerbacks per Pro Football Focus.
The Rams have alternatives, though, with their stellar backfield duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum, should Stafford or Sean McVay overall need to audible.
Many may point to "Stafford will suffer outdoors," and any radical weather change could surface more concerns. However, nothing this season points to him stumbling when not in a dome.
🏆 MORE: Will Matthew Stafford or Drake Maye win NFL MVP?
Will Rams' elite run defense lock down Panthers duo?
Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard remain an underrated backfield tandem, but Los Angeles has sit comfortably among the top run defenses in the NFL for most of the season.
With its strongly underrated offensive line, the Panthers likely will try to get both out in space and funnel the pass game from them. However, the Rams will force Young to take control by stacking their front.
With this in mind...
Can Bryce Young repeat his Week 13 brilliance versus Rams?
In that matchup won by Carolina, Young completed 75% of his passes, threw for three touchdowns, and posted a season-high 10.3 yards per attempt, a stark change in him challenging downfield as opposed to midrange routes.
WR Jalen Coker and tight end Tommy Tremble have recently emerged to complement talented rookie Tetairoa McMillan, though this young group will face more pressure with a battle-tested team and defense.
Young will need to buck the trend of defenses playing him in the short-to-midrange field and challenge with more deep balls, just as he did to help him win this first clash.
The situation doesn't lend itself to Young accomplishing that, though.
🎫 MORE: Early NFL Wild Card lines to bet
Rams vs. Panthers spread bet (ATS)
Rams -10 (-110) • BetMGM
Early money has moved toward the Panthers, which kindly removed the hook and allows for a push on a common winning margin.
Rams vs. Panthers moneyline bet
PASS. The market is merely working along the edges of how strongly to back the Rams. Maybe if you want to do a cheap contrarian bet on the Panthers' long odds, but don't put serious money on a Rams ML ticket that's basically all downside.
Rams vs. Panthers bet on the Over/Under total
Under 46.5 (-108) • DraftKings Sportsbook
Expect the Rams to carry the weight; the Panthers will ultimately fail to withstand the pressure from the talented LA front.
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Rams vs. Panthers betting trends data
Again, these should not be considered gospel but can help inform betting decisions on the fringes.
- ATS record 2025: Rams 12-5 • Panthers 10-7
- Over/Under record 2025: Rams 10-7 • Panthers 7-10
- These teams were nearly equal in run play percentage (41.5% for Rams, 40.7% Panthers) and pass percentage (58.5% Rams, 59.3% Panthers).
📋 MORE: How sportsbooks set betting lines
Best NFL Wild Card sportsbooks that may be available in your area
Even if sports betting is legal in your state, not all sportsbooks may be available to you. Here are some of the most popular options to look into:
- DraftKings
- FanDuel
- Fanatics
- BetMGM
- bet365
- Caesars
- theScore Bet
- Hard Rock Bet
- Betr
- BetRivers
🆓 MORE: How to use bonus bets when signing up for a sportsbook
MORE 2026 NFL PLAYOFFS:
- SN's expert predictions for NFL playoffs, Super Bowl 60
- Full NFL playoff schedule
- Updated NFL playoff bracket
- Wild-card picks, predictions
- NFL playoff power rankings, 1-14