NFC Championship Game 2015: TV Info, Odds, Predictions for Packers vs. Seahawks

The 2014 NFL regular season began with a clash between the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers on Thursday, September 4. It's only fitting those are the NFC's last two teams standing heading into the conference championship.

For the Packers, this impending contest will provide a shot at redemption. Green Bay fell to Seattle in that Week 1 bout, and the team will be looking to prove it has what it takes to dethrone the reigning NFL champs. As for the Seahawks, a victory here could prove to be a catalyst toward the league's next great dynasty.  

Will the high-octane offense of the Packers get it done this time around, or will the stout Seahawks defense contain Aaron Rodgers and Co. once again? Before this highly anticipated game unfolds, and the answer to that question comes to fruition, let's take a look at the game's viewing information, odds and predict how it's likely to shake out.

NFC Championship Info

When: Sunday, January 18

Where: CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Channel: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Betting Info (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 47
• Spread: Seahawks -7.5

Preview and Prediction

John Froschauer/Associated Press

Both the Seahawks and Packers enter the conference title game riding huge waves of momentum from the divisional round. Seattle trounced the Carolina Panthers to the tune of 31-17, and Green Bay overcame a red-hot Dallas Cowboys team to win 26-21. However, each of those performances came with its respective ups and downs.

Seattle has looked like the NFL's most dominant team since Week 12 of the regular season. Including their postseason victory, the Seahawks are riding a seven-game winning streak and haven't lost since the middle of November.

The team's defense continues to be the biggest reason for its success. During Seattle's current winning streak, it has held opponents to seven points or fewer in five of those seven contests. While the team did give up 17 to the Panthers, it refused to allow easy points, forcing Cam Newton and Co. to sustain scoring drives of at least 13 plays twice.

Seattle's secondary finished the regular season ranked first in the league, and it displayed its prowess against Carolina, picking Newton twice and returning one for a touchdown. Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated recalled what happened when an ill-advised Newton pass entered the air space of Richard Sherman:

Although, for as good as Sherman and Co. were, the team's third-ranked run defense looked average, giving up 132 yards on the ground while allowing 4.4 yards per carry.

Offensively, the Seahawks are a dangerous running team, but they were held in check by the Panthers and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry. Luckily, quarterback Russell Wilson had a phenomenal game, completing 15 of his 22 passing attempts for 268 yards and three touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 149.2.

Green Bay heads to Seattle on a three-game winning streak, which culminated in a victory over the Cowboys. Rodgers played through a tear in his calf and still managed to complete 24 of his 25 passing attempts for 316 yards and three touchdowns, earning a passer rating of 125.4; however, his mobility was severely affected, and that could pose a problem against a dangerous Seahawks pass rush.

ESPN's James Walker tweeted his thoughts on the impending matchup:

The Packers will need to get running back Eddie Lacy going early and often to slow down Seattle's talented edge-rushers. Lacy looked fantastic against a good Cowboys run defense, carrying 19 times for 101 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per rush. A dangerous runner in the open field, Lacy could give the Seahawks trouble, especially after they allowed Carolina's Jonathan Stewart to average 5.4 yards per carry on Saturday.

Here's an interesting (and pretty accurate) Lacy comparison, via Brad Evans of Yahoo Sports:

Perhaps the Packers' biggest weakness entering the conference championship is their defense. Green Bay has been inconsistent on that side of the ball throughout the season, and it isn't coming off an overly impressive showing against the Cowboys.

While the Packers did hold Dallas to 21 points and 315 total yards, the Cowboys remained efficient throughout the game. Tony Romo completed 15 of his 19 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, while DeMarco Murray rushed for 123 yards and a score, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. If the Seahawks are afforded that kind of consistency, they will be difficult to overcome.

The victor of this contest will be the team more capable of exploiting its opponent's weaknesses. In this case, it's likely Seattle's offense will exploit Green Bay's defense with a well-balanced attack. Conversely, it's difficult to see Rodgers, a hampered quarterback who has seen his share of trouble on the road, circumvent a dangerous Seahawks secondary.

Expect this one to remain close throughout with the home team winning this nail-biter and heading to Super Bowl XLIX.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Packers 24