Super Bowl 2015: Updated Odds and Predictions Ahead of AFC, NFC Championships

It's hard to fathom a better set of matchups for the AFC and NFC Championship Games. Thanks to a wild divisional round, we are left with four of the best teams throughout the entire NFL season battling for the right to play in the Super Bowl.

Of the four quarterbacks in the championship round, three have already won Super Bowls. Two experienced signal-callers in Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will do battle with Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, respectively.

The men under center aren't the only story, as the weapons around them are as potent as any in the league. Then there's the defenses of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots that strike fear in any opponent.

Leading up to the two massive matchups, here's a look at the latest odds and a prediction for the AFC and NFC championships.

Team	Odds
Green Bay Packers	31-5
Indianapolis Colts	29-4
New England Patriots	173-100
Seattle Seahawks	127-100

Predictions Breakdown

In the NFC, the season will end exactly how it began. After getting stomped in Week 1 by the Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers will look to avenge the loss and represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

The Packers come in with one of the most explosive offenses with weapons all over the field. The Seahawks feature the best defense in the NFL with the secondary literally damaging people's souls.

That's exactly how Richard Sherman described Kam Chancellor after his phenomenal performance against the Panthers, per Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times:

"

Kam Chancellor damages people's souls. ...

Kam doesn't get the respect he deserves. Any time you say another strong safety is playing better than him, then you're not watching tape. Who else is playing better? Show me the tape. Show me the playoff tape. Show me in a big game that somebody else played at a higher level, and I'd appreciate it.

"

That will make for a stiff test for Rodgers, who took down the Dallas Cowboys with three touchdowns and no interceptions. While he didn't play well in the opener in Seattle, he will redeem himself.

They'll also get a huge game from Eddie Lacy. The running back finished with over 100 yards against Dallas despite missing time due to an asthma attack, per Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel. He had abysmal numbers in the opener as well but should be a huge reason why the Packers pull out a win.

Over on the AFC side, the Colts and Patriots will renew a rivalry that has lasted over a decade. Only these days, both teams have a completely different corps than in the early days.

Everyone knows about Luck taking over and what he has done for Indy during his short career thus far. The only thing he hasn't done to this point, it seems, is take down Peyton Manning's old nemesis in Brady. ESPN Stats & Info notes how lopsided the three losses have been for Luck and the Colts:

While Brady is still under center for the Pats, the names around him have changed drastically. Julian Edelman is now the leading slot receiver. Rob Gronkowski has been healthy all season and is a force down the field.

Then there's Brandon LaFell. The man who caught the game-winning touchdown in the divisional round was not even on the roster last January. A decent option for the Carolina Panthers in his first four seasons, LaFell eclipsed every career high this year, including receptions (74) and receiving yards (953).

On top of his production, he has also earned respect from Brady, via Ben Volin of The Boston Globe:

Suffice to say, Luck's run will come to an abrupt end in New England, just like many of Manning's postseasons with the Colts. That leaves the Packers and Patriots battling it out for the crown, which will come down to which experienced quarterback steps up in the clutch.

Brady may have more Super Bowl wins than Rodgers, but his recent success in the big game has been atrocious. Look for Rodgers to pick apart another solid defense and send Brady and Bill Belichick home with an 0-3 record in their last three Super Bowls.

Prediction: Packers 34, Patriots 27

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