Packers vs. 49ers Point Spread: NFL Conference Championships Odds, Prediction
It’s the first post-season meeting between Green Bay and San Francisco since a Wild-Card game at Lambeau Field on Jan. 5, 2014. Behind 227 yards passing and a touchdown as well as 98 yards rushing from Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers were 23-20 winners. Phil Dawson kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired on a very cold night. Aaron Rodgers had just 177 yards passing for the Packers.
Rodgers, who grew up not far from San Francisco in Chico, California, is looking for his second Super Bowl trip. The future Hall of Famer won a ring at SB XLV over Pittsburgh. 49ers counterpart Jimmy Garoppolo is looking for his first Super Bowl trip as a starting quarterback. The Niners haven’t been to the big game since losing XLVII to Baltimore 34-31. San Francisco is a +150 second-favourite to win it all at Sports Interaction and Green Bay is +600.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
These teams met Week 12 also at Levi’s Stadium and the 49ers rolled 37-8 – that would end up being a huge tiebreaker since both clubs finished at 13-3. Garoppolo threw for 253 yards and two scores (to George Kittle and Deebo Samuel) and was way better then Rodgers, who had one of the worst games of his career in throwing for just 104 yards; he did have a TD pass to Davante Adams. Green Bay totaled 198 yards. The Packers are 2-5 against the spread in the past seven meetings.
The winner Sunday faces either Kansas City (likely a favourite against both) or Tennessee (an underdog against both) in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.
Green Bay Packers
In their first playoff game in three years, the Packers beat visiting Seattle 28-23 on Sunday. Rodgers threw for 243 yards and two scores without turning it over. Rodgers now has 38 career playoff touchdown passes (17 starts), fifth-most in league history. The Seahawks had no answers for Packers top receiver Davante Adams as he caught eight balls for 160 yards and two scores.
After tying for the NFL lead with 19 touchdowns during the regular season, tailback Aaron Jones rushed for two more. The Green Bay defence sacked Russell Wilson five times, including once late by Preston Smith that essentially clinched it. Starting Green Bay right tackle Bryan Bulaga, one of the best in the business, was active but didn’t play due to illness. The Packers are 7-1 ATS in their past eight vs. teams with a winning record.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have the benefit of an extra day of rest as they dominated the Minnesota Vikings last Saturday, 27-10. The San Francisco defence was one of the NFL’s best for about 70 percent of the regular season but faded a bit down the stretch partially due to losing some key players to injury. Three of them were back vs. the Vikings in end Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander and safety Jaquiski Tartt and that unit was brilliant in holding the Vikings to just 147 yards and 21 on the ground, the fewest the Niners have even surrendered in a playoff game.
Led by likely NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa (two sacks), San Francisco sacked Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins six times. Tevin Coleman led a stellar running attack with 105 yards and two scores. Because the Niners were so good on the ground, Garoppolo wasn’t asked to do much (11-for-19, 131 yards, TD and interception). The Niners are 7-19-1 ATS in their past 27 as home favourites.
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