Giants vs. 49ers Preview and Prediction for the 2012 NFC Championship Game
Written by Matthew Regaw
Wed, 18 Jan 2012
Category sportsbook
Feedback Rating - no votes
This weekend the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers meet up in the NFC Championship game to decide who will advance to the Super bowl.
Giants vs. 49ers
The Giants may have pulled off the biggest upset on their way to the big game as they defeated the Green Bay Packers. However that should not take anything away from the big win by the 49ers as they defeated the high-flying Saints.
The NFC Championship odds for this game have the 49ers listed as three point favorites to open, but have since changed. With 57 percent of the early betting public on the Giants, the line has lowered to 2.5 and even one in some places. The total for this game can be found at around 42.5 points.
The Giants enter this game as one of the most feared teams in football. They are riding a hot streak and have momentum on their side coming into this game. They are being compared to the last Giants team that won the Super bowl, although it could be argued that they are actually better. Eli Manning has taken his game to a whole new level. Manning is calm and cool in the pocket and has a slew of weapons that can break the big play at any time.
Manning has to be on top of his game to make up for a lackluster running game that has struggled all year to gain ground. The true strength of this Giants team is a front defensive line that clogs lanes and harasses the quarterback all day long. This kind of pressure is hard to deal with and is a game changer that 49ers QB Alex Smith will have to deal with.
Smith tore down the walls of criticism in his first year under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh and the result could be a ticket to the Super Bowl. Smith amassed nearly 300 yards as he torched the Saints defense in the last outing. Smith looked like a seasoned vet in the pocket late in the game as he led his team to victory. Vernon Davis was his main target as the Saints struggled to cover the elusive tight end. Frank Gore powers a run attack that can control the ball and the clock against any opponent.
Like the Giants, the 49ers have a strong defense that is led by linebacker Patrick Willis. Despite the number of points they allowed against the Saints, the 49ers defense is still one of the best in the NFL.
The Giants are on a very good run and are stealing the spotlight from the 49ers. The 49ers defeated the other "hot" team in the NFL, yet today the Giants are stealing the headlines. The 49ers will use this perceived disrespect as motivation in this game. The home field has been a huge advantage in this playoff season and the 49ers will have a huge following to support the home team.
The Giants are one dimensional on offense with a poor running game and the 49ers defense will be able to focus on shutting down Manning and the passing game. The 49ers pull away late and advance to the Super bowl.
2012 NFC Championship Game Pick: San Francisco 49ers -2