NFC Championship: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers Free Pick, 1–19–2020
Free NFL Pick by Nathan Powers of PrecisionPicks.com
Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers
Line: 49ers -7.5, O/U 45
Game Time: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 6:40 PM EST
The AFC and NFC Championship games are set to kick off on Sunday with our featured matchup from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA when the Green Bay Packers visit the San Francisco 49ers. These teams played on November 24th in the regular season with San Francisco winning 37–8 and covering as -3 point home favorites. The Packers were (10–6 ATS) on the season and 6–2 SU Away. San Francisco was (10–6–1 ATS) this year and 7–2 SU at Home.
Green Bay (13–3) survived a late surge by the Seahawks last weekend as they walked away 28–23 winners to advance to the NFC Championship under 1st-year head coach Matt LaFleur. Aaron Rodgers threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns, while Devante Adams had 160 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Arguably, the biggest key to Green Bay’s victory vs. the Seahawks, and what makes them a true threat to knock off the 49ers, is their duo of defensive bookends. Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith. Smith & Smith recorded two sacks apiece while keeping constant pressure on Russell Wilson all night. This duo will need to make 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo uncomfortable from the opening snap in order to keep this potent San Francisco offense on the sidelines.
San Francisco (14–3) had no trouble getting past Minnesota in their 27–10 victory at home as -7 point favorites in Saturday’s Divisional Round matchup. Defensively, San Francisco demonstrated the same traits that have them ranked as one of the league’s most lethal units in all of football. The Vikings mustered up a mear seven first-downs against the 49ers, the third-fewest first downs in a playoff game in NFL history. Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman lead this defense which allows 19.4 PPG and was 1st against the pass this season allowing 169.2 passing yards per game. Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t need to do much throwing for 131 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Tevin Coleman has rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers will need Jimmy G to play a notch above his Divisional round performance but this team is built upon a defensive unit that can shut down any offense including the Packers.
Green Bay is a different team than they were when these teams met in November. However, the 49ers have been the class of the NFC all season and playing at home is a clear advantage compared to traveling to play in cold Green Bay. San Francisco shut down a very good Vikings team that is some ways is similar to the Packers. The key for the 49ers will be to get after Aaron Rodgers and not allow him to create plays outside of the pocket. The Niners’ defensive line is far superior to the Packers’ banged-up offensive line. I still feel this game is kept close for the simple fact that Aaron Rodgers is one of the best in the game and the Packers played a lot of close games this season. Teams that won the previous head-to-head matchup by at least 14 points are 1–7 ATS in conference championship games. I like the 49ers to advance to the Super Bowl but these sets up for a Green Bay +7.5 cover.
NFC Championship Pick — Green Bay Packers +7.5
