Buccaneers vs. Packers: NFC Championship Game odds, preview, and pick

A Super Bowl berth will be on the line when Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon (3:05 p.m. ET, FOX). These clubs met at Raymond James Stadium – host site for Super Bowl LV – in Week 6, and the Bucs won handily (38-10). Despite that result, the Packers are favored in the rematch, which we’ll preview below.

Total team effort by Packers to beat Rams

The Green Bay offense was in full vigor on Saturday, producing 484 yards of offense against the Los Angeles Rams, who boasted the NFL’s No. 1 defense in the regular season.

The two Aarons – Rodgers and Jones – both had outstanding games. Rodgers completed 23 of 36 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, while Jones rushed for 99 yards and a score on 14 carries.

But the Packers’ defense might have been the most impressive unit in that tilt. Maligned for most of the season, Green Bay’s stoppers held Jared Goff and company to a paltry 244 yards of offense in a 32-18 victory.

Forcing turnovers name of the game for Bucs

Most of the headlines going into Sunday’s Buccaneers-Saints contest concerned the two quarterbacks – Brady and Drew Brees. But it was the Tampa defense that stole the show in the Superdome.

The Bucs picked Brees off three times in a 30-20 victory, setting up Brady and company inside enemy territory on two occasions. They also forced a Jared Cook fumble.

However, Rodgers has been extremely careful with the football in his last seven games, tossing only one interception compared to 21 touchdowns. The Packers are 11-0 in games in which they didn’t turn the ball over this season.

Red zone stats favor Green Bay

The Bucs made four trips to the red zone in their most recent meeting with Green Bay, and tallied a touchdown on all four occasions. That result is unlikely to repeat itself on Sunday, as the Packers are 10th in red zone defense on the year.

By contrast, Tampa’s stoppers are a modest 21st in red zone defense this year, while Green Bay’s offense ranks first in red zone touchdown percentage (78.5%).

Trends say take Packers, Over

There are several encouraging spread trends for the Packers in this one. They’re a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five home games against teams with winning road records, and 5-1 ATS in their last six home playoff games. Green Bay is also 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall.

Totals bettors should note that the Over has cashed in eight straight January games involving the Packers. The Over is also 7-3 in Green Bay’s last 10 home playoff games.

The Bucs have exceeded the total in 25 of their last 35 road games, and in seven of their last eight games following a spread victory.

Score prediction: Packers 31, Buccaneers 24

NFL Pick: Packers -3.5, Over 51

Wager on all the NFL postseason action on BetAmerica!