NFC Championship Odds: New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, January 22, 2012

by Bovada Sportsbook

Frank Gore - NFC Championship Odds: New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers

While form held in the AFC side of the NFL playoff bracket, both the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers pulled upsets last week to set up an NFC Championship Game matchup that few anticipated. San Francisco opened as a 3-point favorite on BBovada Sportsbook’s NFL odds and there will be live betting available.

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New York (11-7) only got into the playoffs on the last night of the regular season but has been dominant in beating Atlanta 24-2 on wild-card weekend and then stunning the Super Bowl favorite Packers in Green Bay last week, 37-10. Giants QB Eli Manning totally outplayed likely NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, with Manning throwing for 330 yards and three scores. Manning did the most damage with his throws to WR Hakeem Nicks, who caught seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a Hail Mary score to close the first half that changed everything. Manning has thrown for 953 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception in the last three games. Nicks, by the way, is the Bovada favorite this weekend to have the most receiving yards of any player.

The New York defense held the NFL’s highest-scoring offense 15 points below its season average and forced four turnovers. The Packers' longest play through the air was for a measly 21 yards. The Giants have won four games in a row and are allowing just 12.5 points in that stretch.

San Francisco (14-3) was a home underdog against the Saints last week but pulled out a 36-32 shocker on an Alex Smith to Vernon Davis 14-yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds remaining. Smith was terrific in his playoff debut, throwing for 299 yards and three scores while also running for a crucial 28-yard fourth-quarter score with just over two minutes remaining. Davis was a best with seven catches for 180 yards and two scores.

The Niners’ defense, ranked No. 4 overall, No. 1 against the run and No. 2 in scoring during the regular season, allowed a ton of yards but forced five turnovers. This will be San Francisco’s first appearance in the NFC Championship Game since January 1998. The Giants are 3-4 against the 49ers in the playoffs, including their memorable collapse in a wild card game at San Francisco on Jan. 5, 2003. New York led 38-14 in the third quarter but fell apart and lost 39-38.

This game also is a rematch of a Week 10 game in San Francisco. The Niners won that one 27-20 as Manning came up short in the fourth quarter for one of the few times this season. His pass was knocked down on fourth-and-2 in the final seconds at the 49ers’ 10 after driving the Giants down the field. Manning threw for 311 yards and two scores but also two picks. Smith threw for 242 yards with a TD and a pick. The Giants outgained the Niners by nearly 100 yards and held the ball almost 10 minutes longer. San Francisco star RB Frank Gore did get hurt in the game and watched nearly the entire second half.

The forecast for the game calls for temperatures in the mid-50s and a good chance of rain at Candlestick Park. That could make it tough to get traction on a wet, muddy field that might alter the strategies of the 49ers and Giants. I would argue this favors the Niners, who have better special teams.

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aaron rodgers - alex smith - eli manning - frank gore - hakeem nicks - new york giants - san francisco 49ers - vernon davis