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NFL expert makes specific and promising prediction about Seahawks-Panthers showdown

ESPN's expert panel predicts the Seattle Seahawks will beat the Carolina Panthers and that cornerback Devon Witherspoon will get an interception off of Bryce Young.
Kenneth Walker
Kenneth Walker | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

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By virtue of their crazy comeback victory over the Los Angeles Rams that is still reverberating amongst the 12s, the Seattle Seahawks have the inside track on the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs.

It could all take a wacky, woeful detour Sunday, however, against the Panthers. A loss in Charlotte, in fact, might mean a return trip to North Carolina as a Wild Card team. On the flip side, by late Monday night the Seahawks could have the division and top seed wrapped up if they win and both the San Francisco 49ers and Rams lose.

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ESPN's three expert prognosticators believe head coach Mike Macdonald's team will take care of business. All three are picking Seattle to beat Carolina, by margins of 18, 10 and seven points.

There's another predition in play here, one that makes sense and would greatly increase the Seahawks' chances of winning.

Writes ESPN: "Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon will record an interception. Witherspoon has great coverage metrics this season, with a 12% target rate and 0.8 yards per coverage snap allowed, both much better than average for corners."

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Panthers' quarterback Bryce Young, however, has thrown only nine picks this season and gone without one in four of his last five games.

Seahawks-Panthers
Seahawks-Panthers | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

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