FORT LAUDERDALE, Sporting Alert – New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals start as the early favorites to win their respective conference championship game and advanced to this year’s Super Bowl.
This is according to Westgate Las Vegas Superbook early line.
Tom Brady and defending champions Patriots (12-4) are listed as 3-point favorites to beat Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos (12-4) in the AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Colorado on Sunday.
In the battle for the NFC championship title, the Cardinals (13-3) will enter as 3-point favorites as well to beat one of the Super Bowl favorites, the Carolina Panthers.
Cam Newton and the Panthers (15-1) have been very impressive this season, but there are those who still believe the NFC regular season champions have flaws that will be exploited by the Cardinals on Sunday.
Meanwhile, according to ESPN Stats & Info, If the Patriots hold out until Sunday and stay the choice pick in the AFC, it would be the first time Broncos quarterback Manning will start as a home underdog in playoffs.
Although it hasn’t been confirmed that Manning will be the starting quarterback, it is highly unlikely that he will make way for Brock Osweiler, who played a big part in Denver’s 30-24 overtime victory over New England during the regular season.
It is a bit surprising that Arizona starts as the favorite of the Panthers, but it wouldn’t be any great shock if the Cardinals were to end the dream of Newton to play in the Super Bowl.
In the meantime, the game total for the New England Patriots v Denver Broncos AFC Championship game is set at 44.5.
Game time of Sunday is at 3:05 PM ET.
The total for the Carolina Panthers v Arizona Cardinals NFC Championship game is set at 48.
Kick-off from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, is at 6:40 PM.
