Super Bowl 2015: Updated Odds and Complete Postseason Predictions

Twelve teams enter the postseason with clean slates, and everyone wants to know who has the best chance of getting to, and winning, Super Bowl XLIX.

Well, there are a couple of different ways to speculate on the eventual NFL champion. There's always the analytical approach of breaking down each contest, assessing matchups and predicting a winner for each game until only one team remains standing. Another, faster approach is to see what the folks in Las Vegas think by checking the updated Super Bowl odds.

Since the playoffs are just mere hours away, it's only fitting that we take a look at the current championship odds and follow that up with a round of complete postseason predictions. We won't officially know who will take the NFL's title until February 1, but the speculation starts now.

Updated Super Bowl Odds

Team	Odds
Seattle Seahawks	227-100
New England Patriots	33-10
Denver Broncos	117-20
Green Bay Packers	61-10
Dallas Cowboys	123-10
Pittsburgh Steelers	47-2
Indianapolis Colts	75-2
Carolina Panthers	43-1
Cincinnati Bengals	46-1
Baltimore Ravens	47-1
Detroit Lions	123-2
Arizona Cardinals	77-1

Super Bowl odds courtesy of Odds Shark and current as of January 2.

Postseason Predictions

Wild Card Round

Home	Away	Pick
Carolina Panthers	Arizona Cardinals	Panthers
Pittsburgh Steelers	Baltimore Ravens	Steelers
Indianapolis Colts	Cincinnati Bengals	Bengals
Dallas Cowboys	Detroit Lions	Cowboys

The narrative for the impending contest between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals has remained the same since the regular season concluded: Arizona doesn't have the offensive firepower to put points on the board against Carolina's defense. Well, that officially appears to be the case, as Around the NFL reported third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley will get the start for the Cardinals:

There aren't many scenarios that end with an Arizona win here.

Both the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have won their respective home contests against each other this season. This time, the game will be in Pittsburgh; however, the Steelers will be without star running back Le'Veon Bell, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

That's bad news for the Steelers, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Ben Roethlisberger is having a career year, and Antonio Brown has become one of the league's most elite receivers. This duo will be facing a Ravens secondary ranked 23rd in the league against the pass. The Steelers will get this done through the air.

When the Cincinnati Bengals met the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, they had yet to establish Jeremy Hill and their sixth-ranked rush offense. Well, Cincinnati has certainly done so since, as Hill has been lighting up opposing defenses down the final stretch of the season. Indianapolis is ranked 18th against the run, and its defense will have a difficult time getting off the field once the rookie phenom gets going.

The Detroit Lions have a good enough defense to prevent the Dallas Cowboys from putting up their season average of 29.2 points per game; however, an inconsistent Lions offense isn't likely to generate enough points to come away with a win here.

Divisional Round

Home	Away	Pick
New England Patriots	Cincinnati Bengals	Patriots
Seattle Seahawks	Carolina Panthers	Seahawks
Green Bay Packers	Dallas Cowboys	Packers
Denver Broncos	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers

Luckily, the Bengals ended their 24-year playoff win drought, because they won't get past the New England Patriots here. While Cincinnati has a very good running game and strong secondary, the Patriots are well-rounded in every aspect of the game. Home-field advantage certainly helps as well.

There shouldn't be too much offense expected when the Panthers meet the Seattle Seahawks. Both defenses have been performing at very high levels of late, so mistakes will be key here. The advantage in that department goes to a Seattle team that has turned the ball over only 14 times this season compared to a Panthers squad that has accumulated 23 giveaways.

Expect fireworks when Dallas travels north to take on the Green Bay Packers. Both of these offenses are simply electric, and there should be plenty of points scored. Although, it's difficult to bet against Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field, as he's thrown 25 passing touchdowns without an interception there this year.

A surging Pittsburgh offense will take on the Denver Broncos in the final matchup of the divisional round. Pittsburgh's strength on defense has been its ability to stop the run, and if it can slow down C.J. Anderson, the Steelers will be able to outscore Peyton Manning due to a one-dimensional Denver offense.

Conference Championships

Home	Away	Pick
Seattle Seahawks	Green Bay Packers	Seahawks
New England Patriots	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers

Interestingly enough, the final NFC contest is the same as the first of the season, as the Packers take on the Seahawks once again. When these teams met in Week 1, Seattle won by a score of 36-16 after holding Rodgers to 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception. As good as Rodgers has been this season at home, his numbers have remained lackluster on the road, and Seattle will go to the Super Bowl as a result.

If any team has what it takes to go on a hot streak and defeat the Patriots at home, it's the Steelers. Pittsburgh ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak due to a solid mix of a potent offense and improved defense. This team has a knack for rising up in big games, and considering the momentum it's riding after big playoff wins, its defense will find a way to get pressure and frustrate Tom Brady.

Super Bowl

Don't look now, but we have a rematch of Super Bowl XL. The Steelers came away with a 21-10 win against the Seahawks in that one thanks to some offensive trickery; however, Pittsburgh will need more than gimmicks to circumvent Seattle's defense here.

The Steelers offense may be red hot coming into the championship game, but the Seahawks' mean defense will cool off Roethlisberger and Co. due to its ability to prevent big plays and make opposing offenses grind out long drives. Meanwhile, Russell Wilson's ability to scramble away from the pass rush and generate yards out of dead plays will be enough to put the Seahawks over the top for another Super Bowl victory.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Steelers 24