2015 NFL AFC and NFC Championship Odds and Free Picks: Colts @ Patriots and Packers @ Seahawks Predictions 1/18/15

2015 NFL AFC and NFC Championship Odds and Free Picks: Colts @ Patriots and Packers @ Seahawks Predictions 1/18/15: The NFL playoffs continue this Sunday with the AFC and NFC title games, and when the day is done, the matchup for Super Bowl XLIX will be set. In the NFC, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are set to meet the Green Bay Packers, and in the AFC, the New England Patriots will rekindle their rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts. Here is a closer look at both matchups.

NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks

The top-seeded Seahawks and second-seeded Packers will meet in a rematch of a Week 1 game, but this time around, the winner will punch their ticket to Super Bowl XLIX. Seattle easily won the previous meeting, defeating Green Bay 36-16 at home. This time around, the Seahawks will again host the Packers, who got all they could handle from the Dallas Cowboys last weekend. Meanwhile, Seattle cruised past the Carolina Panthers in their divisional round matchup.

In addition to being a battle between the top two teams in the NFC, Sunday’s conference title game also matches Green Bay’s powerful passing attack led by likely league MVP Aaron Rodgers against the top-ranked secondary of the Seahawks, also known as the “Legion of Boom.” In the Week 1 meeting, the Seahawks got the better of Rodgers and company, holding Rodgers to just 189 passing yards and one score. On the flip side, Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch ran over the Green Bay defense for 110 yards and two scores.

Of course, a lot has changed since September. For one, Green Bay has shifted around its defensive front and has bolstered its run defense in the process. On the other hand, Rodgers is currently dealing with a slight tear in his calf muscle, which limits his mobility. If Rodgers struggled against Seattle at full strength, it is hard to imagine him flipping the script this weekend while playing on basically one leg. Throw in the fact that Seattle QB Russell Wilson is firing on all cylinders and has been nearly unbeatable at home throughout his career, and the Packers are facing an uphill fight that they simply can’t win. The defending champs will move go back to the Super Bowl with a chance to repeat.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks (-7) Cover the Spread

AFC Championship Game: Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

The Colts and Patriots aren’t exactly strangers when it comes to meeting in the AFC title game, but unlike many of their epic battles, New England QB Tom Brady won’t be facing Peyton Manning. Instead, he will take on Andrew Luck, who just finished ousting Manning and the Broncos from the playoffs in the divisional round. Now, Luck will try to continue a changing of the guard by besting another future Hall of Famer in Brady, who is coming off yet another postseason comeback of his own against Baltimore last weekend.

While the quarterbacks are certainly the headliners, it is the New England running game that has actually doomed the Colts recently. These teams met in the divisional round of the playoffs a year ago, and LeGarrette Blount ran for 166 yards and four scores in a 43-22 rout. Back in Week 11 of this year, it was Jonas Gray running for 201 yards and four scores in a 42-20 blowout win. Yes, Indianapolis will need yet another stellar showing from Luck in order to win Sunday, but if he doesn’t at least get a little help from the defense, his performance isn’t going to matter.

Ultimately, the problem that the Colts will face is that the Patriots are just the more balanced team. A steady pass rush is crucial for slowing down Brady, and the Colts simply don’t pressure the quarterback well. Meanwhile, Indianapolis is a terrible running team, which means the Patriots will be able to focus solely on stopping Luck. Granted, stopping Luck is easier said than done, but even if Luck is a little better than Brady at this stage in their careers, he can’t beat the Patriots by himself.

Prediction: New England Patriots (-7) Cover the Spread

Check the odds to win 2015 Super Bowl XLIX plus daily NFL vegas odds and lines updated daily throughout the year at NSAwins.com!

Need Expert Winning NFL Predictions and Picks? Be sure to check out NSAwins.com’s award-winning NFL Football Season Picks Packages for expert winners against the vegas spreads and totals in NFL Football this season including 2014 NFL Football Picks and Predictions to beat the vegas point spreads and totals!