CHARLOTTE - With the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks facing each other in an NFC Divisional Playoff, the mayors of the two cities have made a wager on the outcome of the game.
The winner of the game advances to the NFC Championship. The winner of the bet gets mementos from the losing city.
Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter bet Seattle Mayor Ed Murray that the Panthers will defeat the defending Super Bowl champions.
"Four years ago, the Seahawks were the first team to ever end the regular season with a losing record and then beat the defending Super Bowl champions in the playoffs," Clodfelter said. "And the Panthers are going to do the same thing to them that they did to New Orleans. I have no doubt about it."
Despite the Panthers being 11-point underdogs, Clodfelter did not take any points from Murray or ask for a greater prize package.
"Obviously, our score will be higher than their score, but beyond that I don't have a score prediction," Clodfelter said.
Murray is picking the Seahawks to win the game, which kicks off on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET at CenturyLink Field.
"We beat them in October, and on Saturday it's not even going to be close," Murray said in an announcement from the mayor's office. "The Seahawks are virtually unbeatable at home, and we know the 12s are going to be insanely loud. Go Hawks!"
Each mayor put offerings that are iconic to his city on the line.
If the Panthers win, Murray will send the Queen City a collection of Seattle music memorabilia. The gift basket will include vinyl LPs by Nirvana, Mudhoney, the Shins and the Postal Service, CDs by Shabazz Palaces, Sleater-Kinney, Sarah Silverman and Luluc, and other memorabilia.
If the Seahawks win, Clodfelter will send the Emerald City a gift basket full of items that are emblematic of Charlotte. These include recycled sneakers by Charlotte-based ReKixx, salted caramel brownies from Amelie's French Bakery, and paraphernalia from Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.
Additionally, the mayor of the losing team will take a selfie in the winning team's jersey.
