Week 12 of the regular season closes with an intriguing matchup between a surprising team seeking a statement road win against a franchise trying to prove it still belongs among the NFL's top tier of contenders.

Carolina (6-5) has won five of its past seven games, and a win on Monday night would vault the Panthers into sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The rare primetime game for Carolina comes at San Francisco, with the 49ers (7-4) looking to keep the 9-2 Rams and 8-3 Seahawks within sight in the NFC West.

ODDS & TRENDS

The 49ers are consensus 7.5-point favorites. The line has shifted to 7.0 at BetRivers, where San Francisco has been backed by 74% of the total spread-line bets and 65% of the money. According to the book, the Panthers have covered the spread in 11 of thei

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