Super Bowl 2015: Final Predictions, Odds Before AFC, NFC Championship Games

The field may contain just four teams, but going to war with Las Vegas' Super Bowl odds is as difficult as ever.

Really, it seemed easier when all 32 teams had listed odds. At least the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars never stood a chance, right?

Now there are no teams to eliminate from consideration with sheer confidence. Four elite quarterbacks, a handful of talented backs, several top wideouts and any number of top-tier defenses are still kicking.

Truth be told, though, Las Vegas seems confident in how Championship Game Weekend will unfold.

This time, the odds might just be on to something.

Updated Super Bowl Odds Ahead of Championship Weekend

Team	Odds
Seattle Seahawks	27-25
New England Patriots	99-50
Green Bay Packers	25-4
Indianapolis Colts	77-10

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and accurate as of 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 17.

2015 NFL NFC, AFC Championship Schedule and Odds

NFC Championship	Date/Time (ET)	TV	Spread (O/U)	Pick ATS
AFC Championship	Date/Time (ET)	TV	Spread (O/U)	Pick ATS
Green Bay Packers vs. Seattle Seahawks	Sunday, January 18, 3 p.m.	Fox	SEA -8 (47)	GB
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots	Sunday, January 18, 6:30 p.m.	CBS	NE -7 (54)	NE

Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and accurate as of 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 17.

Final Predictions

Marshawn Lynch Explodes

The focus surrounding Green Bay's second trip to Seattle this season centers on the first, as well as the health of Aaron Rodgers. 

Russell Wilson and the Seahawks served the Packers a wicked 36-16 loss way back in Week 1. Not only did Rodgers manage just 189 yards and a score through the air, but his ground game gained just 80 total yards.

Now Rodgers is hurt too, although one would not know it based on his trio of touchdowns in the divisional round.

All of this serves to gloss over one thing, though, as highlighted by a quote below from media sessions this past week.

"I don't think it's that much different except their guys are coming through," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said, per ESPN.com. "They've grown with their season, and they're at the top of their game."

Leading this charge is Marshawn Lynch, also known as Beast Mode, also known as the guy the media are angry with for not speaking to them, which otherwise also helps to gloss over his contributions as of late.

Lynch has been in postseason form for more than a month:

Opp	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
at SF	20	104	5.2	33	0
at PHI	23	86	3.7	21	0
vs. SF	21	91	4.3	15	1
at ARI	10	113	11.3	79	2
vs. STL	14	60	4.3	14	1
vs. CAR	14	59	4.2	25	0

Really, he was only limited in the divisional round because his team rarely had the ball.

Against the Packers in Week 1, he needed just 20 attempts to total 110 yards and two scores against a defense that ranks 23rd against the rush and allowed each of its last four opponents to rush for more than 100 yards.

At home, Lynch is in for a major outburst. Rodgers is hurt, on the road and in the face of an elite defense, but the beast himself will still be the focal point of the attack to limit Green Bay's opportunities.

Prediction: Seahawks 34, Packers 23 

Indianapolis Defense Folds

The overwhelming narrative that circles the AFC side of things is another cliche—a potential passing-of-the-torch moment as Andrew Luck clashes with Tom Brady. 

To be fair, it is worth a mention now that Luck has leaped one major hurdle by taking down Peyton Manning in Denver. 

That note needs an asterisk, though, as Luck's defense was fortunate enough to catch Manning at a great time—he was injured. Heck, before that, the defense was fortunate enough to meet Cincinnati, a team that annually chokes in the postseason.

Really, the last test the Colts defense faced that will sniff what New England brings to the table Sunday came in Week 16 in Dallas. Forget that one already? The Cowboys ran wild to a 42-7 final, as the Colts defense allowed four passing touchdowns and 127 rushing yards.

As ESPN Stats & Info notes, the Colts defense is either great or horrible, with little in between:

Favoritism for New England by such a noticeable margin has a lot to do with Bill Belichick, too, never mind the home-field advantage.

Belichick unleashed Jonas Gray in a Week 11 blowout win against these same Colts, which resulted in 201 yards and four touchdowns.

Belichick does this often. Tim Wright caught seven passes for 61 yards and a score in Week 8 before disappearing. Brandon LaFell had a pair of two-touchdown games. LeGarrette Blount exploded for a two-touchdown outing randomly, too.

This unpredictable element, paired with Indy's erratic defense, places Luck at a major disadvantage. Going to Denver and winning against a team that felt like it had one foot out the door before an explosion is one thing; going to Foxborough and upsetting the red-hot Patriots is quite another. 

Prediction: Patriots 38, Colts 30

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).