Despite holding the NFL’s worst winning percentage since 2019 (at .281), the Carolina Panthers still have their legion of supporters across the Tar Heel State and at North Carolina sportsbooks. The NFC South cellar dweller is grabbing the most search volume of any North Carolina professional sports team.
BetCarolina.com was curious: Which are the favorite professional sports teams among North Carolina residents? Using SEMRush.com, we ranked the top five most searched professional North Carolina-based sports teams, based on searches conducted from Sept. 16 to Oct. 16, 2024.
Rank | Team | Search Volume |
1 | Carolina Panthers | 823,000 |
2 | Carolina Hurricanes | 450,000 |
3 | Charlotte Hornets | 246,000 |
4 | Charlotte FC | 90,500 |
5 | North Carolina Courage | 6,600 |
In total, North Carolina’s NFL team grabbed a search volume total of 823,000 during the period in question, although the Carolina Panthers playoff chances look dim. The far more successful Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL are second in the state with 450,000 search volume and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets (246,000) are third statewide.
Our list only accounts for pro teams that are at the highest level in their sport and are based in North Carolina. So for instance, Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves, who have a lot of fans in the Tar Heel state, are not included. Neither are minor-league teams.
In 2024, the Panthers have the second worst Super Bowl odds with bet365 North Carolina Sportsbook at +50000, as of Oct. 18. That ranks ahead of only the lowly New England Patriots (+60000) NFL-wide.
The Carolina Hurricanes, based in Raleigh, hold +1400 Stanley Cup title odds on the site, ranking in a tie with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche for seventh overall. The Canes are the pride of the state among pro sports teams in recent years, having appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past six season.
The Hornets enter the NBA league year with +100000 NBA title odds at BetMGM NC Sportsbook, tied with the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers for the longest odds in the league.
While the Panthers, Hurricanes and Hornets are all in the top three spots, search volume wise, the next two spots are occupied by newer teams that play the same sport.
That is two pro soccer teams, Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer and the North Carolina Courage of the National Women’s Soccer League. Charlotte FC, in its third season, drew a search volume total of 90,500 during the period in question. Charlotte FC has clinched a berth in the 2024 MLS Eastern Conference playoffs.
Operators that offer the best North Carolina sports betting promos also carry a huge variety of soccer betting options, including women’s leagues such as the NWSL. The local team in that league, the Courage, is based in Cary. The two-time league champions, who launched in 2017, round out our list with a search volume total of 6,600 during the period in question.
Still, no team in the Tar Heel State could hold a candle to the statewide popularity of the lone NFL team in the Carolinas. The Panthers, despite their poor form, finished well ahead of the next closest team in North Carolina as the NFL regular season reaches its apex in Charlotte and on gridirons across America.
Find reviews of NC sportsbook apps here at BetCarolina.com no matter which team is your favorite.
USA Today photo by Kirby Lee
Author
Christopher Boan is a lead writer at BetCarolina.com specializing in covering state issues. He has covered sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
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