Wed 18/01/2017 - 15:56 EST

NFC Championship Predictions

NFC Championship Predictions

Two teams with differing playoff histories, the Green Bay Packers are the experienced team in the NFC Championship Game, with four Super Bowl victories. The Atlanta Falcons have appeared in just one Super Bowl and lost the game.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Green Bay Packers betting tips

By Bob Duff

Betting odds on the NFC Championship Game, with point spreads provided by Bovada.lv:

Green Bay Packers (+4) at Atlanta Falcons (-4)

jonesWhen studying the respective playoff histories of the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons, they share one common trait - both lost a Super Bowl game to the Denver Broncos - the Packers in Super Bowl XXXII and the Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. But once you get beyond that commonality, their postseason paths diverge.

This will be Atlanta's fourth appearance in the NFC Championship Game and they are 1-2 so far, losing at home to San Francisco in 2012-13, and at Philadelphia in 2004-05 but winning as a 10-point underdog at Minnesota in 1998-99. This will mark the first time the Falcons enter the NFC Championship Game as the favorite.

Green Bay will be playing in its sixth NFC Championship Game. The Packers are 3-3 but are 1-1 on the road, winning 21-14 at Chicago in 2010-11 en route to the most recent of their four Super Bowl triumphs. The Packers are 1-1 against the spread as a road underdog in the NFC title game.

A game that could look more like an NBA playoff game than NFL postseason action, the challenge is to determine which potent offense will prevail. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has tossed 24 touchdown passes and one interception since Nov. 20. Green Bay has committed only two turnovers during its eight-game winning streak. 

ryanAtlanta's offense ranks with the best in NFL history, scoring 540 points, tied for eighth most all time. The Falcons have averaged 35.1 points per game at the Georgia Dome. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan, the odds-on favorite to win the NFL MVP award, has passed for 1,469 yards, 14 TDs and no interceptions during the Falcons' five-game winning streak, posting a quarterback rating of 131.8.

Atlanta is also the NFL's most efficient offense, turning the ball over just 11 times, tied for the league low, and the Falcons have lost the ball just once in the past five games.

Green Bay has averaged 30.2 points per game during its win streak, while the Falcons have put up 34.9 points per game during their winning run. Like last week's Dallas-Green Bay game, this one could come down to which QB has the ball in his hands last.

aaronRodgers owns a career 118 passer rating against Atlanta but that might not be the most worrisome stat for the Falcons. The visting team is 10-1 against the spread in the last 11 games between these two teams, and the Packers are 7-1 ATS in their last eight road games. Meanwhile, the Falcons are 3-10 in their last 13 games as a home favorite.

The Falcons outscored the Packers 33-32 during the regular season, so even though the total is set at 61.5, the highest total ever offered in the history of the NFL playoffs, shattering the mark of 59.5 set on the Lions-Saints 2012 postseason game, you will still want to strongly consider wagering on the over. Atlanta has gone over in 15 of 17 games and Green Bay has gone over in 12 of 18 games.

Oh and by the way, the Lions and the Saints? They went over.

nfl

There are two key injuries that could impact the outcome. Green Bay expects receiver Jordy Nelson (ribs) to play, while Atlanta receiver Julio Jones (foot, toe) who left early in last week's win in Seattle, is an uncertain starter.

Pick: The Packers (-4) and the over (61.5)

 

 

Category : News

More articles...
News - 12/06/25
Florida is Now the Overwhelming Favorite to Win the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals 

What: 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Finals Who: Edmonton Oilers vs. Florida Panthers When: Game 4 is Thursday, June 12 at 8 p.m. ET Where: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida How to watch: TNT and Max It's funny how things can change in the span of a week or so. Before the final series of […]

News - 04/06/25
Belmont Stakes 2025: Baeza is in line for classic glory 

The third and final leg of the Triple Crown happens Saturday, June 7: the Belmont Stakes. Like last year, it will be a little different than the traditional Belmont: it will be run at 1 ΒΌ miles at Saratoga Race Course, since Belmont Park is still under construction. The race offers a $2 million purse, […]

News - 02/06/25
Oklahoma City is a Big Favorite to Win the 2025 NBA Finals Over Indiana 

What: 2025 NBA Finals Who: Oklahoma City vs. Indiana Pacers When: Game 1 is set for June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET Where: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma How to watch: ABC After a thrilling postseason leading up to this stage, only two teams are left in the hunt to take home the Larry […]

News - 02/06/25
Best UFC 316 Bets: Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley Picks 

What: UFC 316 Who: Merab Dvalishvili vs Sean O'Malley in the main event When: Saturday, June 7 at 9 p.m. ET Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey How to watch: ESPN+ There's a title on the line at UFC 316 and there's a main event that people can't wait for. That's right, it's that […]