NFC Underdogs Look For Upsets
The NFC future odds predictibly put the teams that got a bye in the Wildcard rounds at the top of the heap, but what about the underdogs that have clawed their way to where there are and have no intention of going home?
The NFC future odds at most betting sites look like this:
Seattle Seahawks -Â 10/13Â Â Â
Green Bay Packers – 5/2Â Â Â
Dallas Cowboys -Â 9/2Â Â Â
Carolina Panthers – 14/1Â Â Â Â
-Courtesy of Bovada
The Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers are the favorites to meet in the NFC Championship game. The Seahawks are the favorites to go to the Super Bowl. That does not mean that the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers are completely out of the running, though.
The Cowboys actually have the best chance to upset their foe, the Packers.
Despite Green Bay playing at home, the Packers defensive line is undoubtedly being kept up at night thinking about the big physical Cowboys offensive line and the NFL’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray.
Murray averages about 120 yards per game and the Cowboys are going to aim to get him well above that average.
A lot has been made of the weather and how Tony Romo will be able to pass in those conditions, but the fact is the Cowboys may not need the Romo deep ball if Murray can establish the run. This will allow Dallas to conrol the clock, tempo and likely upset the Packers.
The most unlikely scenario is the Carolina Panthers somehow beating the Seattle Seahawks, though both teams are very similar. Both teams feature duel threat quarterbacks with big arms. Both teams have recievers capable of making big plays. Both teams like to establish the run game before taking to the air. However, the Seahawks know how to win and have been showing it, esspecially in the latter part of the season.
Despite all the similarities, it will be the Panthers’ defense that will end up getting them the upset. Option quarterbacks like Rusell Wilson like to run to the outside, an area that the Panthers effectively shut down as a running route. If they take away the Seahawks quarterback mobile threat, it’ll go a long way in upsetting Seattle.
