NFC Championship Game Betting Odds Preview

The Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers facing off in the NFC Championship Game likely wasn’t on many prediction lists five months ago, but that's what bettors will get on Sunday.

The Cardinals head to the conference championship after knocking off Green Bay 26-20 in overtime last week as a 7-point favorite. In overtime Larry Fitzgerald busted out a 75-yard reception to put Arizona in the red zone. Fitzgerald also capped it by taking a quick shovel pass in for a touchdown.

The Panthers jumped out to a huge lead against Seattle last week and held on for a 31-24 win as a 2.5-point favorite. Heading into the second half Carolina led 31-0 before Seattle reeled off 24 unanswered points. Carolina’s defense put on quite a show in the win with five sacks and two interceptions which included a pick six.

Carolina is a 3.5-point favorite this weekend at online sportsbook Bovada which shouldn’t surprise anyone since they’re playing at home. The Panthers have won 12 in a row SU at home with an 8-4 ATS record. Arizona is no lightweight on the road, with a five-game road winning streak during which they are 4-1 ATS. On the season the Cardinals were 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS on the road.

Arizona and Carolina also met up in the postseason last year in the Wild Card round. Carolina won that matchup 27-16 as a 5.5-point favorite. Cam Newton had a pair of touchdowns and the Panthers’ defense took care of the rest, limiting the Cardinals (being led by Ryan Lindley) to 78 yards of offense.

In 14 games between the Panthers and Cardinals Carolina has the edge at 9-5 SU and 7-7 ATS. At home in eight games versus the Cardinals the Panthers are 5-3 SU and 4-4 ATS.

Championship game history also favors the Panthers at home. Over the past 20 seasons the home team in the conference championship is 25-15 SU and 18-22 ATS. In the last 14 conference championships the home team is a stout 10-4 SU. The favored team is also 10-2 SU in the last 12 conference championships and 3-1 ATS in the last four.