CAROLINA (5-3) at SAN FRANCISCO (6-2)
4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
OPENING LINE - 49ers by 6 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Carolina 5-3, San Francisco 49ers 6-2
SERIES RECORD - Panthers lead 10-7
LAST MEETING - Panthers beat 49ers, 23-20, Oct. 24, 2010
LAST WEEK - Panthers beat Falcons, 34-10; 49ers off
AP PRO32 RANKING - Panthers, No. 10; 49ers, No. 4
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Carolina earned its first win of season against the Niners in their last meeting in 2010, sending San Francisco to 1-6 after 0-5 start in Mike Singletary's final season as coach. Now, Panthers won four in a row, 49ers riding five-game winning streak.
Carolina is winning by an NFL-best average margin of victory at 24.00 points, with San Francisco second-highest at 19.83.
Both teams have scored at least 30 points in each game during respective winning streak.
In addition, the teams have allowed 20 points or more just once during past five contests.
Panthers QB Cam Newton connected for three completions each to five different receivers last week vs. Atlanta.
Newton and 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick were roommates at the 2011 scouting combine.
FB Mike Tolbert's five touchdowns dating to Week 6 are tied for second-most in the NFL during that span.
Ted Ginn Jr., who spent the previous three seasons with San Francisco, has 21 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns.
Panthers had 27 first downs last week for second time this year.
TE Greg Olsen is set to play in his 103rd straight game dating to his rookie season of 2007, third-most among active players.
San Francisco's 15 rushing TDs most in NFL.
49ers: RB Frank Gore rushed for 102 yards in last meeting, when San Francisco committed 11 penalties. LB Patrick Willis had team-best 11 tackles vs. Panthers last time after 20 total tackles at Carolina as a rookie on Dec. 2, 2008.
San Francisco has scored 30 points or more in five straight games.
49ers defense allowed only six touchdowns and 12.5 points per game during October.
Jim Harbaugh played QB for the Panthers in 2001, while 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman got his start with Carolina from 1995-2001.
Reinforcements are in for 49ers, with WR Mario Manningham's likely return from December knee injury and surgery, and possibly LB Aldon Smith after he missed five games while undergoing treatment for substance abuse.
