NFC Championship Game 2023: Updated Odds, Prop Bets for 49ers vs. Eagles
The race to Super Bowl LVII is nearly at its end. Only two teams remain alive in the NFC, and on Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers will face off for the right to represent the conference on the sport's biggest stage.
This one is shaping up to be an epic clash. The Eagles and 49ers feature two of the best defenses in the NFL—ranked second and first, respectively, in yards allowed—and two intriguing quarterbacks.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, last year's Mr Irrelevant, is not only a feel-good story but also just the fifth rookie quarterback to reach a conference title game. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, meanwhile, is the former Carson Wentz understudy turned viable MVP candidate.
This should be a close game and an exciting back-and-forth battle. Here, we'll dive into the latest scheduling and odds information and examine a few enticing prop bets for Sunday's action.
Game Info and Odds
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Date: Sunday, January 29
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports App
Money Line: Eagles -145 (bet $145 to win $100), 49ers +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
Line: Eagles - 2.5
Over/Under: 46
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Game Preview and Prediction
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Philadelphia remains the favorite heading into Sunday, which isn't a total surprise. The Eagles were one of the most consistent teams in the league this season, they have the more experienced quarterback, and Hurts should be as healthy as he's been since suffering a shoulder injury in December.
While Hurts might not have been at 100 percent against the New York Giants on divisional weekend, he still threw two touchdown passes and rushed for 34 yards and another score.
"I felt better, but it doesn't matter," Hurts told reporters. "I've got to get it done."
Hurts' ability to win with his arm and his legs will give Philadelphia a fighting chance against San Francisco's top-ranked defense. However, any lingering shoulder issues could cause serious problems.
While Philadelphia will likely want to lean into its run-first identity, the 49ers have been tremendous against the run this season. San Francisco finished the regular season ranked second in both rushing yards allowed and yards per carry (3.4) surrendered.
The Eagles may have to rely on their defense to come out ahead here. That's a viable path to victory if a pass rush that racked up 70 sacks in the regular season can rattle Purdy.
However, the rookie out of Iowa State has been unflappable thus far. He posted a strong 107.3 passer rating in the regular season and has a 109.9 rating in the postseason.
The prediction here is that Purdy plays another mostly clean game while San Francisco relies on Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and the rushing attack against an Eagles defense that ranked 24th in yards per carry allowed (4.6).
It'll be a close one, but don't be shocked if Purdy becomes the first rookie quarterback to ever start a Super Bowl.
Prediction: 49ers 24, Eagles 22
Prop Bets
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Jalen Hurts Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns
If the Eagles are going to have a chance offensively, Hurts will have to move the ball through the air. The 49ers are capable of shutting down a rushing attack, but they've been less consistent against the pass.
San Francisco ranked a more modest 20th in passing yards allowed during the regular season.
While the 49ers allowed only 20 passing touchdowns in the regular season, they allowed even fewer (11) on the ground. By design, Hurts should find himself throwing the ball when Philly reaches the red zone.
This makes the over at +100 (bet $100 to win $100) the enticing side of Hurts' passing prop of 1.5 touchdowns. If Hurts doesn't have multiple passing scores in this game, the Eagles probably aren't finding multiple touchdowns.
Kenneth Gainwell Over 11.5 Rushing Yards
While the Eagles may be stunted in the ground game, backup running back Kenneth Gainwell should get his fair share of opportunities. Despite splitting time with starter Mile Sanders, Gainwell still logged 12 carries, 112 rushing yards and a touchdown last week against New York.
Sanders' over/under prop of 51.5 rushing yards is dicey because of San Francisco's phenomenal run defense.
Gaintwell's over/under of 11.5 rushing yards (-125 for the over) is much more enticing. While there's always the chance that Philadelphia is forced to abandon the run entirely, fans should expect Gainwell to approach double-digit carries once again.
With a career average of 4.4 yards per carry, Gainwell should be able to reach 12 yards here, even if a stout 49ers front halves his usual pace.
George Kittle Over 3.5 Receptions
The Eagles have a tremendous pass rush and a secondary that ranked first in both passing yards allowed and yards per pass attempt (4.9) surrendered this season.
Don't expect the 49ers to move the ball too consistently through the air. However, star tight end George Kittle will be Purdy's favorite target when San Francisco is looking to throw.
Since Purdy took over as the starter in Week 14, Kittle has averaged four receptions per game (including playoffs). He caught five passes on five targets in a close defensive battle with the Dallas Cowboys a week ago.
Kittle is a player Purdy will target in critical down-and-distance situations, and when he's under pressure—which could happen frequently on Sunday. Kittle is -165 to reach four receptions this weekend, and it will be a surprise if he doesn't get there.
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