UPSTART PANTHERS MAY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.

Byline: Norman Chad

By the time darkness falls over this great nation Sunday evening, the road to Super Bowl XXXI could go through Interstate 85, due south from Charlotte, N.C.

I speak, of course, of the New Orleans-bound Carolina Panthers.

If the 9-4 Panthers can beat the 10-3 49ers in San Francisco, the NFC West title and a postseason home game or two improbably will be within Carolina's youthful grasp. And, ladies and gentlemen, let me be abundantly clear on this issue: Nobody - I mean, nobody - goes into Ericsson Stadium and beats my Carolina Panthers.

Carolina, which has never lost a game at historic Ericsson Stadium, has given up fewer points than any team in the NFL this season.

Who amongst you doubts The Man now?

Even the national media finally is recognizing the Panthers' prowess. (If sportswriters were covering the creation of the world, they wouldn't have noticed the flowers and trees until the third week.) Indeed, USA Today and Co. is now just joining The Man, who was so far out front on this one, you'd need a telescope and a tarot card reader to see him.

Granted, the Panthers still could wind up 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

Fiddlesticks!

Carolina is 16-8 over its last 24 games since the expansion franchise began 0-5. (Contrast that to the Jets, who are 4-25 over their last 29 games since the franchise began at a robust 232-287-8.) The Panthers have one of the NFL's sharpest young coaches in Dom Capers, an emerging quarterback in Kerry Collins, a soon-to-be 1,000-yard rusher in Anthony Johnson, a deadeye kicker in John Kasay and a quick, stubborn defense that could stop the sun from setting.

Which brings us back to Sunday night. I don't care if Bill Walsh spends the entire game perched on Wesley Walls' shoulders, the Panthers are going into 3Com Park and, well, if they don't flat-out beat the 49ers, they'll at least cover the spread. San Francisco's favored by 8-1/2; take the points and repeat after me: Carolina is Super Bowl-bound!

(Sporting Note: With both New York teams officially out of the playoffs - the Giants were eliminated one week ago, the Jets were eliminated one week before the start of the season - Big Apple fans now can concentrate on booing the Knicks and sneaking fifths of whiskey into Rangers games.)

As always, the following point-spread picks should not be used as the basis for any actual cash wager:

Falcons at Saints (-3): In two NFL coaching stints, Saints' Rick Venturi now is 1-15. Here are the actual point totals his teams managed in the 15 losses: 3, 6, 6, 6, 17, 10, 0, 17, 7, 3, 17, 14, 15, 7 and 10. The only time a Venturi-littered team has scored more than 17 points, in fact, was in his lone victory - in 1991, when his Colts beat the Bruce Coslet-induced Jets, 28-27. Always remember - it's Rick Venturi who puts the ``interim'' in interim coach. Pick: Falcons.

Giants at Dolphins (-7): On the road of life, there are passengers and there are drivers. And then there are the Giants - disabled in the emergency lane, waiting for a spare tire, a new set of shocks, a better-built engine and a AAA guy by the name of Hal. Pick: Dolphins.

Broncos at Packers (-8): This could be a preview of Super Bowl XXXI, except, of course, that Super Bowl XXXI will match Pittsburgh and Carolina. Broncos T Gary Zimmerman finally had shoulder surgery Monday. He also decided to fix that car door that wouldn't quite shut. Pick: Broncos.

Jets at Patriots (-13): Jets QB Neil O'Donnell got hurt warming up last week. That's like Pavarotti getting laryngitis while gargling. Yeah, I need to see Glenn Foley on third-and-long like I need to see Bernie Kopell on Broadway. Pick: Patriots.

Cowboys (-10) at Cardinals: Six Cowboys have been suspended since 1994 for violation of the NFL's drug policy. On the other hand, Dallas is 7-2 when S Bill Bates refills his Geritol. Pick: Cardinals.

Chiefs at Raiders (-2): I'm no drama critic, but didn't Al Davis have a role in ``The Crucible?'' Even when Raiders G Steve Wisniewski shadowboxes, he hits below the belt. Pick: Chiefs.

Jaguars at Oilers (-6): Once a year, I provide the EXACT FINAL SCORE of a game beforehand. So here it is: Jacksonville 27, Houston 19. Could I be wrong? Perhaps. Then again, I could be The Man. Pick: Jaguars.

Bills (-4) at Seahawks: Unexpected fourth-quarter audible by Bills QB Todd Collins last week: ``Testing one two three, testing one two three.'' Pick: Bills.

Ravens at Bengals (-3-1/2): In spirit of season, Ravens QB Vinny Testaverde will now gift-wrap all interceptions. Pick: Bengals.

Chargers at Steelers (-9): Pending league approval, Chargers will install wishing well in offensive huddle. Pick: Steelers.

Redskins (-3) at Buccaneers: Tampa Bay figures it can go 4-1 against AL Central when interleague play begins in baseball next year. Pick: Redskins.

Rams at Bears (-6): If possession is nine-tenths of the law, Rams offense better find itself a good lawyer. Pick: Bears.

Vikings at Lions (-2): Lou Holtz was spotted Tuesday at Edina, Minn., Roommate Matchers. Pick: Vikings.

Last week: 8-6-1.

Season record: 97-95-2.