Super Bowl 2015: Latest NFL Championship Odds, Conference Title Predictions

Never will you find an NFL doubleheader with higher stakes than conference title Sunday, and this season’s version will feature four of the best quarterbacks in the league, the defending champions in the Seattle Seahawks, something of a Cinderella story in the Indianapolis Colts and much more.

Here is a look at the important information and odds for the two conference title clashes. Point spreads are courtesy of Odds Shark, as of Thursday at 11 p.m. ET.

	AFC Championship	NFC Championship
Date	Sunday, Jan. 18	Sunday, Jan. 18
Matchup	Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots	Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks
Time	6:40 p.m. ET	3:05 p.m. ET
TV	CBS	Fox
Point Spread	NE -6.5	SEA -7.5
Predicted Winner	Patriots	Seahawks

AFC Prediction: New England Patriots Over Indianapolis Colts

Considering the New England Patriots already knocked off the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis in Week 11 this season, it is difficult to see Andrew Luck and his squad emerging victoriously in New England in the playoffs. 

The scary thing is, Tom Brady didn’t even play like his normal, dominant self in that first meeting, and the Patriots still won easily, via Pete Prisco of CBS Sports:

Luck is 0-3 in his career against the Patriots, including a divisional-round loss last season. While Luck only has six touchdown passes to eight interceptions in those three contests, he will not be the reason Indianapolis loses this game. The defense will not be able to stop Brady and company, although it will start with the Patriots running game.

New England ran for 234 yards and six touchdowns in last season’s playoff victory over the Colts and 246 yards in this season’s matchup.

Indianapolis was a decidedly mediocre 18th in the league in run defense and may need to devote extra defenders to the box to stop New England this time around. Talk about picking your poison, because that will open up the passing attack for Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski. 

Luck led the league in touchdown passes with 40 and should put some points on the board, but it won’t be enough to outlast a powerful Patriots offense.

NFC Prediction: Seattle Seahawks Over Green Bay Packers

Much like the AFC Championship Game, it is difficult to predict an upset in the NFC Championship Game because of how the regular-season matchup unfolded.

The Green Bay Packers walked into CenturyLink Field in Seattle and were blown out of the water to the tune of 36-16. Aaron Rodgers never even threw Richard Sherman’s direction, Seattle racked up three sacks (including one that led to a fumble and safety) and Eddie Lacy only managed 34 rushing yards.

Granted, the Packers have won 12 of 14 and are playing much better football than they were back in Week 1, but Rodgers is dealing with a calf injury and Seattle is as strong as ever. The “12th man” will be out in full force Sunday behind a defense that gave up more than seven points just one time in the final six regular-season games.

What’s more, Seattle has won 25 of 27 games at home and will use its physical brand of defense to throttle the Packers attack. 

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Seattle’s defense isn’t going to let up just because Rodgers is dealing with an injury, either, if safety Kam Chancellor’s comments were any indication, via Terry Blount of ESPN.com:

"

That's the mentality you've got to have. I'm not really concerned with his hobbly or wobbly calf, whatever. I’m concerned about Aaron Rodgers. If he's in that game, no matter how he's feeling, he's still Aaron Rodgers. He's capable of making plays, capable of getting the ball downfield, getting it to his receivers and just running their offense.

So you've got to respect a guy like that. No matter what's wrong with him, you can't doubt him or say that it's going to be a little different because he's hobbly and wobbly. You don't want any surprises, so just go in with that mentality and you won't be surprised.

"

It’s not just the defense that will carry the Seahawks to victory, because Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson should be able to control the clock and tempo with the league’s best rushing attack against the NFL’s 23rd-ranked run defense. Lynch finished with 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the last meeting and will find some holes yet again in front of the home crowd. 

Green Bay may come a bit closer than the season opener based on the fact that it's been playing impressive football as of late, but Seattle is going to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season.

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