NFC Championship Game: Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams odds, preview and prediction

It’s a divisional battle to claim the NFC seed in Super Bowl, with fierce rivals Seattle and L.A. set to go head-to-head.

These teams took very different paths through the Divisional Round, with the Rams scraping by Chicago 20-17 in overtime, while the Seahawks absolutely blew the doors off San Francisco, 41-6.

The winner of this game won’t have far to travel as Super Bowl 60 will be played at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.

Seattle opened as a field goal-favourite to win on the NFL odds, with the total set at 46.5.

NFC Championship odds: Seahawks vs Rams point spread and betting analysis

The line has ticked down a bit to -2.5 as of Thursday afternoon. Home teams are generally given a three-point edge, suggesting oddsmakers think L.A. is the better team.

With these teams being division rivals, they meet twice a year. The home team came out on top in both head-to-heads this season, but the road team covered each game.

The pivotal meeting came in Week 16, with the Seahawks winning 38-37 in overtime. That game essentially locked Seattle in as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, earning them a bye through the wild-card.

I lean toward L.A. covering this game. The Rams are 9-2 against the spread in their last 11 games against the Seahawks, including 6-0 ATS in their last six trips to Seattle.

I also like the Over. Both teams finish above the number more often than not this year and they’ve hit the Over in two of the last three head-to-heads.

Oddsmakers essentially have the winner of this game winning the Lombardi Trophy as Seattle is a 6/4 favourite to win the Super Bowl on the NFL futures board, while L.A. has the second-shortest odds at 11/5. That leads both AFC teams, New England 5/2 and Denver (12/1).

Los Angeles Rams

It all starts with MVP favourite Matthew Stafford when it comes to the Rams. The 37-year-old is on the verge of winning his first regular season MVP after leading the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and passing TDs (46). He had nearly 200 passing yards and 12 passing TDs more than the next closest player, Jared Goff.

Circle the Over on Stafford’s props as he absolutely balled out in both games against the Seahawks this season, combining for 587 yards and five TDs with no interceptions.

I look at the turnover battle as key in the NFC Championship and it points to L.A. pulling off the upset. The Rams won the turnover battle 7-1 in the two regular season games against Seattle and if not for a furious late-game comeback, they would have swept the season series.

Seattle Seahawks

There has to be concern in Seattle when it comes to quarterback Sam Darnold, who is officially listed as questionable because of an oblique injury. Although it’s very likely he plays this week, he was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, so it’s fair to question how healthy he’ll be when he hits the field.

It was basically the same story last week with Darnold, who was used sparingly in a blowout win. Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, but it was Kenneth Walker III, who really stepped up. Walker finished with 116 rushing yards and three TDs while adding another 29 yards in the air. That’s something to look at as the Rams’ rushing defence is average at best.

I also wonder about the travel advantage for the Seahawks. Since Week 16, Seattle has travelled 6,000 miles while L.A. has travelled 13,500 miles and just flew halfway across the country to Chicago last week.

NFC Championship Prediction: Who Will Win Rams vs. Seahawks?

Our prediction: Seattle Seahawks 23-24 Los Angeles Rams

The Seattle Seahawks are the current favourites to win Super Bowl LX, ahead of the LA Rams and Buffalo Bills.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.