MNF bets: Touchdown scorers, player props for Panthers-49ers
The surprising 6-5 Panthers visit the 7-4 49ers on Monday Night Football. Carolina can take the NFC South lead with a victory, while San Francisco needs a win to keep pace in the loaded NFC West.
Let's get to our pick against the spread, touchdown scorers, and player props, attempting to close the week on a winning note.
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🏈 Pick: 49ers (-7.5)
This spread was 49ers (-6.5) for most of the week, but it has recently moved a full point through a key number in San Francisco's favor. However, I will still lay the points with the 49ers in a game I don't think will be close.
The 49ers' offense looked very good against the Cardinals last week in Brock Purdy's first game since September, posting a season-high 41 points in a divisional game against a league-average defense. It helps that they're finally getting healthy, with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall all at full strength for the first time this season.
Plus, I still don't trust the Panthers. In the past three weeks, they've beaten the Packers on the road and scored just seven points at home in a losing effort against the Saints. You never know what you're going to get from Bryce Young, especially on the road, where Carolina averages 17.3 points per game.
Both teams' defenses rate similarly, but the 49ers' substantial edge on offense allows me to feel comfortable laying more than a touchdown with Purdy and Co.
NFL news editor Brenden Deeg is our "Anytime TD Guy" and will provide touchdown scorer props all season long.
🙌 Bet: Anytime TD (+125)
Kittle has been a touchdown machine this season, finding the end zone five times in six contests. He's the 49ers' go-to target inside the 20-yard line, leading the team in receiving yards and receptions per game in the red zone. San Francisco's wide receiver room is tough to navigate for prop bets, so going with a player you know will have a significant role is the sure-fire play Monday night.
🙌 Bet: Anytime TD (+150)
McMillan is having an incredible rookie campaign. His 748 receiving yards were sixth in the league heading into Week 12, and he's coming off a two-touchdown performance versus the Falcons. The Niners have surrendered the second-most receptions to opposing wideouts in 2025 and allowed Jacoby Brissett to carve them up for 457 passing yards in Week 11.
🏈 Bet: Over 4.5 receptions
Kittle caught all 15 of his targets over the past two games, earning his quarterbacks' attention and trust now that he's fully healthy after missing five games early in the season. He's a key piece of the 49ers' offense, and Purdy should once again often look for his most reliable target.
🏈 Bet: Over 5.5 receptions
McMillan has earned eight or more targets in eight of 11 games this season. He only has four games of six or more catches, but the opportunities are consistently there, and he's facing a 49ers secondary allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game (249.1).
🏈 Bet: Over 15.5 rushing yards
Although Hubbard has lost the starting job to Rico Dowdle, he's still involved enough to have surpassed this total in two of his last three games. The former starter is expected to receive five or six carries, and if he breaks off one for a chunk gain of 10 yards, he should easily cover this total.
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