NFL Conference Championship Odds
(The Spread) – The opening odds for this weekend’s NFC and AFC Championship games are out, and the lines are already moving.
The early game on Sunday will feature a playoff rematch from 2009 when the Baltimore Ravens head to Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots at 3:00PM ET. Fresh off their 45-10 pounding of the Broncos in the Divisional round, oddsmakers have installed the Patriots as 9-point favorites for this Sunday’s game versus the Ravens. Coupled with New England’s dominating effort against Denver, the spread may also be high because Baltimore turned in a rather lackluster performance in a 20-13 win over Houston in Sunday’s Divisional round.
The Ravens blasted the Patriots in the Wildcard round in 2009, as Ray Rice rushed for 159 yards in a 33-14 Baltimore victory. The Ravens raced out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead and harassed Tom Brady to the tune of just 154 passing yards. The Patriots only mustered one touchdown in the second and third quarters, respectively.
View Latest NFL Conference Championship Odds
In the NFC, the spread in the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers game opened as a pick’em at most sports books but most places now list the Niners as 2.5-point favorites. The over/under total for this 6:30PM ET kickoff is currently sitting at 43.5 points for what should be a defensive battle between these two teams.
The Giants traveled to San Francisco earlier this season as a 4-point underdog and were beaten, 27-20. Eli Manning threw for 311 yards and two touchdown passes but he was intercepted twice on the day as the Giants suffered the loss.
Both of these teams are coming off upsets in the Divisional round. The 49ers were 3.5-point home underdogs versus the Saints last Saturday but they scored an unexpected 36 points in a wild 36-32 victory. Alex Smith threw for 299 yards while tight end Vernon Davis compiled 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Giants, meanwhile, went into Lambeau Field on Sunday and defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Packers 37-20 as a 7.5-point underdog.
2012 NFL Playoffs Conference Championship Odds
Sunday, January 22, 2012
301 Baltimore Ravens +9 (50)
302 New England Patriots –9
303 New York Giants +2.5 (43.5)
304 San Francisco 49ers –2.5
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