NFL Fact or Fiction: Packers Will Face Patriots in Super Bowl

The Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots are—according to betting odds all across the country—destined to face each other in the Super Bowl.

It would certainly be a battle for the ages, with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady controlling the NFL's two best offenses and meeting on the biggest stage.

Bodog.eu puts the odds of a Pacers repeat at 4:1, and gives the Patriots odds of 5:1. 

But there are still over four months left before the Super Bowl, and so much is still up in the air. Which of the other playoff hopefuls could prevent Green Bay and New England from their destined meeting? 

Will the Packers and Patriots clash in the sporting world's greatest event, or can other teams beat the odds?

Lets check out the 10 other teams that have the best odds of winning the Super Bowl and see how they matchup against Green Bay and New England.

Note: These teams are ranked according to their odds and are not ranked according to any personal prediction of my own.

All Odds are Courtesy of sports.bodog.eu.

Baltimore Ravens

Why the Ravens could beat the Patriots in the AFC playoffs:

Baltimore's defense is absolutely dominant. The Ravens have given up the least amount of yards and points on the season, and the most they've given up is 17 to New York in Week 4.

Baltimore sits with the best defense and the ninth best offense in terms of points scored. If the Ravens stay healthy, they could definitely give the Patriots a run for their money.

Why the Patriots would beat the Ravens in the AFC playoffs:

With the exception of the Buffalo loss, the Patriots passing game has been amazing all season. Should these two teams clash in the playoffs, it would be an unstoppable force meeting an immovable juggernaut. If hard-pressed to make the call, New England seems the favorite here. 

It's a shame these two teams don't meet in the regular season, but a matchup in the AFC title game would be excellent to watch.

Baltimore's Current Super Bowl Odds: 9:1

New Orleans Saints

Why the Saints could beat the Packers in the NFC playoffs:

Drew Brees and the Saint's can score against anyone and they proved in Week 1 they can keep up with the Packers. Brees had 415 yards and three touchdowns against the Packers. 

New Orleans has only gotten better as the season progressed, with only one bump in the road (the 26-20 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 6). 

Where Green Bay's offense is nearly all on Rodgers, the Saints have a fairly dangerous running game and could hit the Packers defense from every angle. 

Why the Packers would beat the Saints in the NFC playoffs:

The Packers already won once so far this season, and they're proving time and time again they can win in the clutch. The Saints are one of the more dangerous teams and probably the best shot the NFC has at taking down the defending champions, but the smart money still has to go on Green Bay winning a shootout. 

New Orleans' Current Super Bowl Odds: 11:1

San Diego Chargers

Why the Chargers could beat the Patriots in the AFC playoffs:

San Diego's offense may be struggling at times, but they've put together one of the best defenses in the league. They allow the second least amount of passing yards a game—180 yards a contest—and that could be trouble for Tom Brady and his Patriots.

Should Phillip Rivers turn his season around and revert back to the old, more reliable Phillip Rivers, the Chargers could definitely put together a nice playoff run.

Why the Patriots would beat the Chargers in the AFC playoffs:

San Diego already played a contest against New England in Week 2 and lost, 35-21. Their apparently strong pass defense gave up 410 yards and three touchdowns to Brady in the loss.

Meanwhile, Rivers currently has six touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. Until he turns that around, San Diego won't be a playoff threat. 

San Diego's Current Super Bowl Odds: 11:1

Detroit Lions

Why the Lions could beat the Packers in the NFC playoffs:

Detroit's Calvin Johnson is the best wide receiver in football and Green Bay's secondary is incredibly inconsistent. If Matthew Stafford and Johnson kept hooking up, they could decimate the Packers defense.

The Lions passing game has the sixth most yards in the league, and that spells trouble for the Packers.

Why the Packers would beat the Lions in the NFC playoffs:

Detroit has fallen hard in two straight home contests now after starting 5-0. After orchestrating amazing comebacks against Dallas and Minnesota, the Lions failed to come up with answers late in losses to San Francisco and Atlanta.

The Lions are still a young team, and the experience factor could definitely help Green Bay in a potential playoff matchup. 

Detroit's Current Super Bowl Odds: 13:1

Pittsburgh Steelers

Why the Steelers could beat the Patriots in the AFC playoffs:

The Patriots secondary is exceptionally weak, and Mike Wallace is exceptionally good. He has 612 yards and four touchdowns in five games this season for Pittsburgh, which is quickly proving that concerns about its age were premature. 

The Steelers also allow the least passing yards per game at 158 yards a contest.

If Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers passing game could get hot, they could carve up the Patriots pass defense.

Why the Patriots would beat the Steelers in the AFC playoffs:

Pittsburgh may be 5-2, but those five wins come against teams with a combined 7-23 record. The Steelers have only played two teams with an above .500 record—Houston and Baltimore—and they lost both games. 

They face off against the Patriots in Week 8, so it'll be a good chance to see what could be a second-round playoff matchup if Pittsburgh wins the wild card round.

Pittsburgh's Current Super Bowl Odds: 17:1

San Francisco 49ers

Why the 49ers could beat the Packers in the NFC playoffs:

Just ask Philadelphia, Tampa Bay or Detroit how San Francisco wins. The 49ers win by winning the turnover battle, keeping their best defense for goal line stands and finding ways to get their whole offense involved.

San Francisco is one of the more well-rounded teams, especially when Alex Smith is heated up. Hopefully, in a hypothetical playoff matchup, San Francisco's wide receivers would be moderately healthy, which has been a problem all season.

Why the Packers would beat the 49ers in the NFC playoffs:

It's could the perfect nightmare for San Francisco. The 49ers secondary, while improving, would be no match for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers gets a chance to battle his childhood team and proves—once again—how wrong San Francisco was in passing on him in 2005.

San Francisco's Current Super Bowl Odds: 17:1

Philadelphia Eagles

Why the Eagles could beat the Packers in the NFC playoffs:

The Eagle's defense may not be able to stop the run, but Green Bay's run offense is fairly weak. Rodgers may be the league's best quarterback, but Philadelphia's secondary is fairly strong and could cause problems.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Green Bay's secondary is its weakness, so if Michael Vick returned to his 2010 form, he and his strong receiving core could light Green Bay up.

Why the Packers would beat the Eagles in the NFC playoffs:

It's hard to understand why the Eagles still are in the top 10, according to betting pools, when they're 2-4. Green Bay has shown throughout the early part of this season that it can come back and play consistently. Philadelphia is ANYTHING but consistent. 

Philadelphia's Current Super Bowl Odds: 21:1

Houston Texans

Why the Texans could beat the Patriots in the AFC playoffs:

Two words—Arian Foster. The Texans' running back has been fantastic since regaining a healthy hamstring, and if his team can actually stay healthy, it could emerge as a dark horse contender. Foster had 234 yards of offense Sunday with two rushing touchdowns and one reception for a touchdown.

Why the Patriots would beat the Texans in the AFC playoffs:

New England gives up a ton of yards—most in the league, in fact—but it's the toughest offense in the league. Houston's defense is improved, but probably not enough to stop Brady from working his playoff magic.

Houston's Current Super Bowl Odds: 26:1

New York Jets

Why the Jets could beat the Patriots in the AFC playoffs:

The Jets showed in their win on Sunday against the Chargers that they could make the big plays when it counts. Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense have been under heavy scrutiny all season, but were impressive against San Diego.

The Jets defense is still relatively strong and the secondary, led by Darrelle Revis, could pose a threat to Tom Brady and the Patriots passing game.

Why the Patriots would beat the Jets in the AFC playoffs:

The Jets will have to prove they can consistently score before they'll be a threat to make the postseason, let alone win a playoff game. They sit at 4-3 after the win against the Chargers, but the AFC Wild Card spots will be hard to grab away with Pittsburgh and Buffalo both in the hunt as well.

New York's Current Super Bowl Odds: 26:1

Dallas Cowboys

Why the Cowboys could beat the Packers in the NFC playoffs:

Dallas' defense was huge in its Week 6 matchup against the Patriots, and it was two minutes away from a victory before Brady marched his team down the field.

Tony Romo may be one of the most inconsistent quarterbacks in the league, but if he and the Cowboys passing game were on top of their game in playoff competition against Green Bay, they could punish the Packers' average secondary.

Why the Packers would beat the Cowboys in the NFC playoffs:

The Cowboys are a decent defensive team, but they gave huge plays late in games against New York, Detroit and New England. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have proven time and time again this season that they can make the big plays, something Dallas has struggled to do.

Dallas' Current Super Bowl Odds: 31:1

Conclusion: Packers vs Patriots Super Bowl? Fact

The Packers are running away with the NFC and there are legitimate thoughts that they may not lose a game this season.

Meanwhile, New England has been nearly as dominant, except for the loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.

The Ravens and Steelers could certainly pose a threat to the Patriots' Super Bowl hopes, and the Saints seem the best fit to dethrone the Packers in the NFC. But the odds—and the smart money—should go on a Packers-Patriots meeting in Super Bowl XLVI.