NFL Playoffs 2018: Super Bowl Odds, Conference Championship Bracket Predictions

The NFL's conference championship round is set after an exciting quartet of divisional-round games.

In the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who won just three games last season, will take on the five-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles will battle after they each won heart-stopping playoff matchups that went down to the wire.

Here's a look at the upcoming schedule and television information, as well as the latest Super Bowl odds via OddsShark. You can also find a positional breakdown for the AFC Championship Game below.

Conference Championship Schedule and Television Information

Sunday, January 21, 3:05 p.m. ET on CBS: No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1 New England Patriots

Sunday, January 21, 6:40 p.m. ET on Fox: No. 2 Minnesota Vikings at No. 1 Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl Schedule

Sunday, February 4, 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC: AFC champion vs. NFC champion at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis

Super Bowl Odds (per OddsShark)

New England Patriots: EVEN

Minnesota Vikings: 11-5

Philadelphia Eagles: 13-2

Jacksonville Jaguars: 13-2

Conference Championship Predictions

Vikings 17, Eagles 16

Patriots 27, Jaguars 16

Super Bowl Prediction

Vikings 20, Patriots 19

Jacksonville at New England: Position-by-Position Breakdown

Quarterbacks

Five-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady gets the nod over Jaguars signal-caller Blake Bortles, and there doesn't need to be debate over that take.

However, credit goes to Bortles for improving in his fourth season. He's thrown for over 300 yards four times, and his postseason playmaking ability has been a key asset in the Jags' postseason run.

Edge: New England

Running Backs

As good as Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has been this season, the diverse skill set of the Patriots running backs makes New England's backfield the better of the two.

Dion Lewis rushed for five yards per carry this year and can wear down defenses between the tackles. James White and Rex Burkhead are adept pass-catchers out of the backfield. And Mike Gillislee is a good option when the Pats need to punch it in from the 1-yard line. Together, they are a dangerous threat to any defense.

Edge: New England

Wide Receivers

In a couple of years, this answer might be in Jacksonville's favor. The Jaguars' young wideout core (the average age of their top four wideouts is just 25) impressed this year.

But right now, the edge goes to the Patriots. Deep threat Brandin Cooks (1,082 yards) is the best of the bunch, and Chris Hogan was the unofficial MVP of the 2016 AFC Championship Game thanks to nine catches, 180 yards and two touchdowns. And slot receiver Danny Amendola is a pest who moved the chains time and again this year.

Edge: New England

Tight Ends

With all due respect to the Jacksonville Jaguars' tight end crew, which has combined for seven touchdowns (including playoffs) this year, the Patriots have the best tight end in the game in Rob Gronkowski.

The eighth-year pro enjoyed one of his best seasons in New England this past year with 69 catches, 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. He presents the biggest mismatch for any team playing in the conference championship round.

Edge: New England

Offensive Lines

Per Football Outsiders, Jacksonville's offensive line ranked fifth-best in the NFL in adjusted sack rate, while New England finished 14th.

New England's offensive line was far better in run blocking, however, as it ranked first in adjusted line yards compared to Jacksonville's 13th-place standing.

Neither offensive line has much of an advantage over the other overall, so this position marks the only push.

Edge: Push

Defensive Lines

Again, per Football Outsiders, Jacksonville finished second in adjusted sack rate, while New England took 10th.

Neither team fared well in run defense, as the Jaguars were fifth-last in adjusted line yards, with the Pats taking second-last.

The edge goes to Jacksonville here thanks to its pass rush, which is led by defensive ends Calais Campbell (14.5 sacks) and Yannick Ngakoue (12 sacks).

Edge: Jacksonville

Linebackers

The Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers have done a fantastic job making plays this year.

Telvin Smith and Myles Jack were one and two on the team in tackles, with each man recovering two fumbles and scoring one touchdown. Smith also recovered a fumble for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round, while Jack made an interception. Eleven-year pro Paul Posluszny provides a steady veteran presence for the young Jags defense.

The Pats' Kyle Van Noy was the star of his team's linebacking crew this year, as he finished third on the team in tackles (58) and second in sacks (5.5).

Edge: Jacksonville

Secondaries

The four starting members of the Jaguars secondary combined for 18 interceptions and 214 tackles this season. No member had fewer than four picks or 52 tackles. Cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey also totaled 35 passes defended.

The Pats secondary struggled to start the year as it gave up no fewer than 292 passing yards in any of its first six games. However, the Pats have rebounded to help form the fifth-best scoring defense in the NFL.

Still, the Jags have the edge in the secondary thanks to their tremendous takeaway ability.

Edge: Jacksonville

Special Teams

This could be the biggest unit mismatch in the game. Per Football Outsiders, the Pats ranked third in special teams this year, while Jacksonville finished 24th. New England received positive marks in everything but the punt return game, while it was the exact opposite for the Jags.

Pats place kicker Stephen Gostkowski is also used to the postseason spotlight, having been to the playoffs 11 of his 12 years with the team.

Edge: New England

Coaches

Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone has done a fantastic job in his first season running the team, but Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has won seven Super Bowls as a head coach (five with the Pats) or defensive coordinator (two, with the New York Giants), and his offensive and defensive coordinators are likely leaving for head-coaching gigs after the year ends, per Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, respectively. The Pats have the clear edge here.

Edge: New England

Pick

The Pats could blow out the Jaguars en route to their third Super Bowl appearance in four years.

It is possible the Jags use their stout rushing attack, excellent pass rush and ball-hawking defense to pull off an upset.

However, the guess here is that the Jags will stick with the Pats for four quarters, but Lewis and Gronkowski will prove to be the difference-makers in a two-score win.

Score: Patriots 27, Jaguars 16