NFL Divisional Round

SF/Carolina:

I backed the Panthers in their first meeting and initially leaned Carolina for obvious reasons, their pass rush and home field.  After further thought, I'm going to back SF.  Carolina has been great at home, but SF is a great road team and their experience will get them over the hump in this game IMO.  These defenses are essentially a wash...but SF has more playmakers on offense and they should be able to make some plays through the air vs this vulnerable Carolina secondary.  Especially with Kapernicks favorite target Crabtree in the line up and a healthy Vernon Davis.  With Crabtree, Davis and Boldin in the line up, Kapernick complets over 64% of his passes.  Both Crabtree and Davis were big in their win at GB.  Carolina got all over Kapernick in the first meeting....SF will make adjustments to help protect him...this will not be a repeat of game one.  Steve Smith will not be healthy.  SF defense seems overshadowed by all the talk of the Carolina defense.  Lets not forget how good SF defense is.  Carolina will struggle to score...not sure how they will score especially with Steven Smith out.  SF has a better run defense so Cam will have to beat them with his arm without his best receiver healthy.  Give me Kap with his  slew of good receivers any day over Cam with a gimp Smith, Olsen and below avg receivers.  This Carolina offense has just been very poor of late...only 15.7 first downs per game in their last 3...SF has the edge offensively and why I'm backing them.

San Francisco PK