NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers Reuters

The San Francisco 49ers are aiming for their third straight appearance in the NFC championship game. They'd have to hurdle a challenge in the form of the Carolina Panthers, which are one of the hottest and peaking teams entering the postseason.

The match-up will also feature two of NFL’s top dual quarterbacks: Cam Newton, 2nd among quarterbacks in rushing yards (737) and Colin Kaepernick (4th with 415 rushing yards). For the season, Newton averages a 59.8 per cent completion percentage for a total of 3,379 passing yards with 24 touchdowns while Kaepernick is at 58.4 per cent for 3,197 passing yards with 21 TD.

While both quarterbacks are pegged to be key players for their respective squads in the divisional playoffs, both teams’ defense will be asked to maintain the level of excellence they showed in the regular season.

The 49ers are 7th in the league in passing defense (221.0 opponents passing yards) and 4th in rush defense (95.9 opponents rushing yards) while the Panthers are 6th (214.3) and 2nd (86.9) in those defensive categories, respectively.

Those teams limit the opponents scoring as well. Carolina, which has won 11 of their last 12 games, holds down the opposition to 15.1 points per game (2nd) and San Francisco to just 17.0 PPG (3rd).

The Panthers have won four straight against the 49ers since 2004 going 4-0 against the spread in that stretch. Carolina won the last match-up via a close low-scoring affair, 10-9 last November.

Watch the 49ers vs. Panthers via NFL Game Pass.

Betting Lines: San Francisco 49ers (PK) vs. Carolina Panthers (O/U: 41.0)
 Game time: 4:05 a.m. AEDT (Monday, January 13)

Betting Against the Spread

San Francisco 49ers Trends
 - 49ers are 36-17-2 ATS in their last 55 games
- 49ers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in the divisional round
- 49ers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games in January
- 49ers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 games on the road
- 49ers are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games

Carolina Panthers Trends
 - Panthers are 6-0-1 ATS in their last 7 games at home
- Panthers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games vs. NFC teams
- Panthers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games in the playoffs
- Panthers are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games
- Panthers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games vs. San Francisco