NFL Playoffs 2015: Super Bowl Odds and Picks Heading into Wild Card Round

The ultimate prize for any team making the playoffs is to eventually make its way to the Super Bowl. Just two will earn that right, while only one will hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.

Last year, the Seattle Seahawks trounced the Denver Broncos to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Coming into the playoffs this time around, Seattle once again looks the part of a contender for the championship.

Even with their success to close out the season, neither No. 1 seed is guaranteed a chance to finish with a chance at the title. Recent play by both the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys might challenge the Seahawks, while the Broncos loom again for the New England Patriots to deal with late in January.

In anticipation of the Wild Card Round starting on Saturday, here's a look at the full bracket, Super Bowl odds and predictions for the big game.

Team	Odds
Seattle Seahawks	12-5
New England Patriots	3-1
Green Bay Packers	11-2
Denver Broncos	13-2
Dallas Cowboys	8-1
Pittsburgh Steelers	16-1
Indianapolis Colts	25-1
Carolina Panthers	28-1
Baltimore Ravens	40-1
Cincinnati Bengals	50-1
Detroit Lions	50-1
Arizona Cardinals	75-1

Super Bowl Predictions: New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers

As wild as the regular season was in 2014, the postseason is likely to be pure mayhem. That makes predicting who will wind up in the Super Bowl a tough call this early into the process.

However, past results are telling of the future, which leads me to believe the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers will be in Arizona on Feb. 1. Both franchises are surging at the right time heading into the postseason and have two of the most explosive offenses.

Coming off yet another NFC North-clinching game to close out the season, the Packers have all of the weapons to run through the conference. Aaron Rodgers may have suffered a calf injury in the game but still returned in nearly perfect form, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Most fans know all about Rodgers and his explosive receivers in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. In the playoffs, however, the running game needs to be a strength in Lambeau Field—Eddie Lacy will be up to the task.

The second-year running back finished with over 100 total yards in each of the final nine games along with nine touchdowns over that span. He also set a season-high mark for rushing yards against the Lions, per the Packers' official Twitter account:

On the AFC side, the Patriots' only true loss since Week 4 was against, you guessed it, the Packers. Sure, New England might have fallen to the Buffalo Bills in the finale, but Tom Brady also sat out in the second half.

Brady will be playing every snap during the playoffs and holds home-field advantage. Outside of the loss to the Bills, the Pats haven't dropped a game at home all season. After restructuring his contract, Brady sounded humbled simply by the opportunity to still be playing for New England, via Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald:

"

It’s been a privilege to play here. I love playing here. It’s just been a great experience in my life. Hopefully, I’m here for the rest of my career. Hopefully, I go out and play really well for this team, I think that matters more than anything. I’m going to try to be the best I can be.

I play with a lot of great teammates, and I’ve played with a lot of great teammates over the years. So, I don’t take those things for granted.

"

His days in the postseason, much like Peyton Manning's, are dwindling at this point. That statement isn't meant to rile up Pats fans; it's simply the truth.

Luckily, the legendary quarterback is surrounded by playmakers like Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell. Having LeGarrette Blount back along with Jonas Gray, the Pats are loaded with weapons.

Along with the potent offense, New England's defense has allowed just 16.4 points per game since its Week 10 bye. If the Patriots keep that up, they will have a date with the Packers again for a championship.

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