Bucs vs. Packers: NFC Championship 2021 Odds and Over/Under Predictions

The football fates have given fans one heck of a matchup for the 2021 NFC Championship Game. The Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were two of the league's hottest teams entering the postseason, they each feature a future Hall of Famer at quarterback and each is loaded with high-end skill-position players.

This Sunday, fans will be treated to the first-ever postseason duel between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, along with enough offensive firepower to make an epic shootout a reality.

If the Packers come out on top, they'll appear in their first Super Bowl since the 2010 season. If the Buccaneers win, they'll be in the big game for the first time since the 2002 season—the first year of Jon Gruden's Tampa tenure.

A Green Bay win would put Rodgers into the Super Bowl for the third time in his career, while Brady is playing for a whopping 10th appearance in the NFL title game. Plenty of history is on the line in this one.

Here's everything you need to know for Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

NFC Championship Game Info

Date: Sunday, January 24

Time: 3:05 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports Go

Line*: Green Bay -3.5

Over/Under*: 50.5

Prediction: Green Bay 30, Tampa Bay 26

*from DraftKings Sportsbook

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The offensive firepower in this game is remarkable, from wide receivers like Davante Adams and Chris Godwin to running backs like Aaron Jones and Leonard Fournette, as well as tight ends like Rob Gronkowski and Robert Tonyan. It's not surprising that the contest features an over/under above 50.

Given the weapons and the quarterbacks involved, there's a good chance that this one will hit the over, too. However, don't be surprised if a key defensive stop or a turnover decides the game.

While there's legitimate shootout potential here—and Brady vs. Rodgers is the headlining matchup—there are some defensive stars as well.

The Packers feature a group of talented pass-rushers—including Za'Darius Smith and Rashan Gary—and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in cornerback Jaire Alexander.

Alexander has allowed an opposing passer rating of just 67.4 this season.

The Buccaneers, meanwhile, boast a dominant front seven and the league's top-ranked run defense. Tampa can create pressure with its front four and can make Green Bay relatively one-dimensional offensively.

This was the formula the Buccaneers used to beat the Packers in the regular season, sacking Rodgers four times in the process. That game was in Tampa, however, and not in the cold confines of Lambeau Field

Of course, the Buccaneers don't view the weather as a big disadvantage.

"It's more mental and staying warm on the sideline. We've got all that technology now with the heaters and everything else. It's different, but it's not that big of a deal for us," Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told reporters.

While the weather may play a small role in this game—and defense will play a big one—this contest will likely be won by the quarterback who makes the most clutch plays and the fewest mistakes. That's a factor that could literally go either way.

Brady has finally settled in with the Buccaneers offense, while Rodgers has been playing at an MVP level for most of the season. It's difficult to pick between the two legendary signal-callers, but when improvisation is required, there are few quarterbacks better than Rodgers.

Expect Rodgers to make just enough late-game magic to pull out the win.

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