NFL Championship Round Who Will Come Out On Top?

After the New York Giants decimated defending Super Bowl Champion the Green Bay Packers in the NFL betting lines prime time Sunday game, fans, the league, and handicappers all had a flashback to the 2007 – 2008 playoffs. For new fans, that was the year that two teams were riding a wave of intensity that literally no other team could match, those teams were the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Fast forward to present day, and many price per head bookies are wondering if we could see a rematch of one of the best Super Bowls in the history of the league. Here is a preview of the Championship Round.

The AFC kicks off Championship Round weekend on Saturday at 3 PM in New England, as the AFC North division winning Baltimore Ravens take on the class of the conference, the Patriots. In a rare feat, the Ravens and Patriots were the two teams that received first round byes and were still able to move on to the Championship Round, despite having two weeks off. On paper, this game is closer then the bookie software sites have set the point spread. As of this morning, the Patriots opened as a seven and a half point favorite over the Ravens. The reason for that was the Patriots dominant performance over the Broncos, while the Ravens struggled against the Texans.

But, as we noted, this game is far closer then the bookies are giving it credit for. Entering the game, the Patriots are now the top ranked offense remaining, while the Ravens own the top ranked defense. However, with that being said, it should be noted, that the Patriots defense was a big reason why the team was able to decimate the Denver Broncos. Historically bad, the Patriots defense has risen in intensity when the time was necessary. Yet, given the struggles of the Ravens offense on Sunday, it stands to reason, that the Patriots defense may believe they have an easier time then what will actually happen. If the Ravens defense can contain Brady and the offense, and Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense can show up, the Ravens should finally be able to make it to the NFL Super Bowl.

While we expect the Ravens to represent the AFC, the NFC is a little bit more difficult to determine which team deserves to be Champion. This year’s NFC Championship game features the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants. Both teams are run first pass second on offense, while both defenses specialize in stopping the run. In other words, look for each team to abandon the run early, as quarterbacks Alex Smith and Eli Manning take to the air in an effort to give there teams the advantage. Nevertheless, as we mentioned this game will be tough to figure out which team comes out on top. Essentially, before putting on the best performance of his career, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith was considered the weak link on an excellent 49ers club. Conversely, Eli Manning showed this year, that he is the better Manning brother, as his play has carried the Giants to the NFC Championship game. Meaning to say, with the line only set at one point for the 49ers, we think the game could go either way. Regardless, the safe money is on Eli’s Giants, and we haven’t seen enough consistency from Smith to warrant placing money on the 49ers.