Packers vs. Seahawks: Final Odds, Spread Picks for NFC Championship Game 2015

The Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks opened the 2014-15 NFL season, and it's only fitting that their NFC Championship Game bout will decide which team gets to represent the conference in Glendale, Arizona, for the Super Bowl.

Seattle laid the hammer down on Green Bay in Week 1, defeating it 36-16 and showing hardly any signs of weakness in the process. Four months of football can do a lot for a team, though, and this current Packers roster is equipped with enough weapons to pull off the upset if everything goes according to plan.

But what should the plan be? Aaron Rodgers' calf is still a factor, and running with Eddie Lacy against the Seahawks defense might not yield positive results.

Green Bay is at a clear disadvantage in this one, but you can never count out a team with the de facto best quarterback in football calling the shots. Continue reading on for a full listing of odds, via Odds Shark, as well as a preview for the 2015 NFC Championship Game.

	Spread	Over/Under
Packers vs. Seahawks	Seahawks (-7.5)	46

NFC Championship Game Preview

In the heavily discussed first game of the season, Rodgers made a bold decision by not throwing once to the right side of the field. Why? Because that's where Richard Sherman resides.

Fox Sports' Paul Imig compiled a few key stats about Sherman's outstanding season: 

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According to data from ProFootballFocus, Sherman allowed just 33 receptions and one touchdown this season (playoffs included), while intercepting five passes and knocking away eight others. The opponent passer rating on throws in Sherman's direction was 44.2, which was the second-best mark in the NFL among cornerbacks.

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The corner was just getting things started in Week 1. It'll be interesting to see if Rodgers decides to test him, as the initial game plan to open the season clearly didn't favor Green Bay. Chances are that Sherman will likely go toe-to-toe with rookie Davante Adams, who hauled in seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys last week.

Rodgers targeted Adams 11 times, some of which weren't the greatest of throws. That likely has much to do with his calf issue, but ESPN's James Walker cautions that Rodgers has to be smarter Sunday:

Rodgers, Adams and the rest of the air attack for Green Bay have a difficult task ahead of them, but arguably no player has more pressure on his shoulders than Lacy.

"Everybody's job is important," Lacy said on Friday, via ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "We all have to go out there and execute."

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

Executing against the No. 3 run defense in football won't be easy, especially because of the Seahawks' devastating speed off the edge. This unit is the fastest in football, tormenting offensive coordinators because of its ability to eliminate screens, sweeps and toss plays. Without the outside of the field to work with, Lacy has no choice but to pound again and again up the middle.

That takes a toll on a runner, even one with the power of Lacy.

The second-year back doesn't need 100 yards in this one for his role to be considered fulfilled. He just needs to give Rodgers some semblance of consistency out of the backfield, picking up three or four yards when given the rock. Without that, the defense will hone in on Rodgers and the passing game.

On the other side of the field, Marshawn Lynch should have no problems running the ball. Lynch should have a field day against the No. 23 team versus the run. He ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries against the Packers in Week 1.

Lynch isn't the only runner Green Bay must prepare for, though. Russell Wilson scampered for 849 yards on the ground, truly establishing a two-headed monster in the backfield for the Seahawks.

Even though Seattle's passing game is weak, this team is poised to finish off the Packers and head to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. This defense is the best in football, no exceptions, and Wilson is the perfect man to lead the charge in Seattle.

Look for the 12th Man to be rowdy in the final game at CenturyLink Field this season, giving Seattle yet another advantage—albeit an intangible one.

Seattle will roll.

Prediction: Seattle wins, 31-23

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn