Seahawks vs Patriots: Latest Odds and Predictions for Super Bowl XLIX

It's the old guard versus the vanguard.

The potential passing of the proverbial torch in Super Bowl XLIX is impossible to ignore. With the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks set to meet in Glendale, Arizona, NFL fans will get to see whether the next blossoming dynasty will unseat the current hegemony:

Even before the season, Seahawks vs. Patriots would've been high on the list of most intriguing Super Bowl matchups. For everything to play out as it has is like a gift from the football gods.

When: Sunday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. ET

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Spread: Seattle (-2), via Odds Shark

Over the next couple of weeks, you can bet that many will bring up the last time the Seahawks and Patriots met. Seattle won 24-23 at home on Oct. 14, 2012. The result was more famous for essentially being the genesis of Richard Sherman as NFL fans have come to know him.

Sherman jawed with Tom Brady all game and went out of his way to get in Brady's face after the game.

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

The All-Pro corner was no less loquacious upon entering the locker room, per Ryan Divish of The News Tribune in Tacoma, Washington:

"

I kept saying I'm going to get that next time. Every TV timeout, I went up and said it right to (Brady): 'Please keep trying me. I'm going to take it from you.' That was when they were winning. He just gave me that look and said, 'Oh, I'll see you after game.' Well, I made sure I saw him after the game.

"

With any luck, the Super Bowl will be a similarly contentious affair.

One of the bigger storylines heading into the game will be the health of Sherman. The All-Pro cornerback told CNN Sports' Rachel Nichols after the game that he might have hyperextended his elbow on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers:

It was clear late in the game that Sherman was laboring physically. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll marveled at the fact that he kept on playing despite the injury, per Albert Breer of NFL.com:

Sherman has a couple of weeks to let the elbow heal, but until the extent of the issue is known, it's impossible to say whether he'll be 100 percent for the Super Bowl. And if the elbow is giving him trouble, New England's wideouts will have an easier time dealing with his presses at the line of scrimmage.

ESPN's Skip Bayless doesn't think Brady will have any qualms about throwing Sherman's way, either, so the injury will definitely come into play one way or another:

Of course, Sherman isn't the only reason the Seahawks defense is the best in the NFL.

As a whole, Seattle did a great job of limiting Eddie Lacy and Aaron Rodgers in the second half of the NFC title game. Rodgers finished with 178 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while Lacy had just 16 rushing yards over the final two quarters to wind up with 73 for the game.

It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks handle LeGarrette Blount, who battered the Indianapolis Colts for 148 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. All in all, he seemed to enjoy himself on Sunday:

As Jim Rome joked, the Colts at least held Jonas Gray in check this time around:

Establishing the running game will be imperative for New England.

Brady isn't likely to look too far downfield on a regular basis against the Seattle secondary. His specialty is surgically dissecting an opposing defense with shorter-to-mid-range throws.

Having Blount consistently gain positive yards will force the Seahawks defense to adjust, and the field will open up a little bit more for Brady.

Similarly, Seattle will look to wear down the New England defense with a healthy dose of Marshawn Lynch. Lynch had 120 yards in the second half against the Packers, and not coincidentally, the Seahawks outscored Green Bay 28-6 over final two quarters and overtime.

Quarterback Russell Wilson is no longer invincible in the postseason—not after throwing four interceptions and nearly costing his team a chance at the Super Bowl. He had had only one pick in six career playoff games before Sunday.

Wilson was exceptional to close out the game, so he more than made up for his early turnovers.

Seattle's offense isn't necessarily explosive, but it can be so efficient when striking that perfect balance between Wilson and Lynch.

This is pretty much a "pick 'em" game. The spread is only two points, and both teams have plenty of past success in the playoffs.

New England gets the ever-so-slight edge. Seattle mounted a furious second-half comeback on Sunday, but the Seahawks did ride their luck quite a bit—especially on the onside kick to set up Lynch's go-ahead score. They won't have the "12th Man" behind them as much in Glendale.

Belichick and Brady will relish the opportunity to knock off the strongest threats to their throne. They'll spend every waking moment they have devising a game plan to earn their revenge and prevent Seattle's coronation.

Prediction: New England 20, Seattle 17