2024-25 NFL NFC Championship Odds and Predictions  

The NFC Conference has seen a resurgence of high-quality teams over the last few years. Although this conference doesn’t have the depth that the AFC Conference does, it still has a few teams that can contend for a victory at Super Bowl 59.  

According to the latest NFL odds, the San Francisco 49ers are the favorites to win the 2024-25 NFC Championship. They’re followed by the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. Can the 49ers win the NFC Championship for a second straight year or will the Lions, Eagles, or Packers dethrone the reigning conference champs? 

Let’s take a look at the latest NFC Championship odds, prop bets and make our 2024-25 NFC Championship predictions.  

NFC Championship Odds 

NFC Championship Favorites 

The following NFL teams are considered the odds-on favorites to win the 2024-25 NFC Championship, according to the top sports betting sites: 

San Francisco 49ers +240  

You have to wonder if Brock Purdy didn’t get injured in the NFC title game a couple of years ago, the Niners wouldn’t have gone to three Super Bowls in the Kyle Shanahan “era.” The San Francisco 49ers know the path; they know how to get there. And they have, in all likelihood, the best collection of weapons in this conference. 

There were questions about Purdy’s ability to follow up on the remarkable performance he had when he stepped into the QB role following an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2022 season. But all Purdy, the last player picked in the ’22 Draft, did was lead the NFL in passing efficiency and take his team to the Super Bowl. 

Although we can’t sit here and tell you that Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are happy, they are going to present and accounted for, and if so, they will be productive. 

Is this a good price for the Niners, considering that both Detroit and Green Bay gave them a scare in the playoffs and Philadelphia seems to have retooled?

Detroit Lions +550 

When the Detroit Lions pushed the 49ers to the absolute limit in last year’s NFC Championship game, that might have suggested either of two things to most people. One is that they are very, very close to taking the step that will get them to the Super Bowl; close enough that if the ball bounced for them just a little they’d get there.  

The other thing it might have suggested is that Dan Campbell’s questionable in-game decisions might hold them back. Who knows? The Lions did not get where they did by accident. Organizationally, they have made a lot of good moves, and that’s a good sign. 

You’d like to think that Jared Goff is the guy who can carry a team through this conference. But Sean McVay didn’t feel that way, did he? 

Detroit is not the team yet that has every angle taken care of. But they’re almost at that place. They have a mean offensive line and ground game, a top-level receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown) and a good pass rush.  

Last year, they needed a secondary that could make more plays. This year, they drafted two solid corners and traded for a starter. The Lions have addressed their biggest weakness and appear poised to win another NFC North title challenge for the conference title again.  

Dallas Cowboys +650  

The Dallas Cowboys are always going to be a relatively popular betting pick, and that by its nature may strip away some value. These NFL odds suggest that they are the third-best team in the NFC and one of the biggest challengers for San Francisco. 

However, is that really the case? I would suggest that it isn’t.  

Dallas is often entertaining and they are a pretty good bully, winning nine games by 20 points or more, giving people the impression that they were much more awesome than they really were.  

They had a defense that finished in the league’s top ten in a number of categories, and they made a lot of good plays, including five interceptions that were returned for touchdowns by DaRon Bland. He’d be hard-pressed to come close to that again. And this stop unit said goodbye to coordinator Dan Quinn (the new coach for division rival Washington), who is being replaced by Mike Zimmer, the former Vikings head coach who has been out of the NFL for the last couple of seasons. 

Jerry Jones and his team of executives need to figure out what they’re going to do about a running game, unless they are expecting Ezekiel Elliott to make a grand comeback.  

In general, Dallas and quarterback Dak Prescott have had a history of pulling up before the finish line. But hasn’t that been the case with all Cowboys teams for about the last 25 years? 

Philadelphia Eagles +650 

It was such an embarrassing effort by the Philadelphia Eagles in their playoff game against Tampa Bay last season that it may have served as a wake-up call for the whole organization, and GM Howie Roseman in particular.  

The defense was so bad that it finished third worst in the league in points allowed, and second worst in passing yards allowed. So, there was a lot of work to be done. And remember that Fletcher Cox retired.  

Another retirement affects the Eagles on the other side of the ball. Jason Kelce has hung up his cleats, and Cam Jurgens will likely be called upon to fill the center role. Philadelphia will still have one of the most outstanding interior lines in the league. And Saquon Barkley, if healthy, can be the kind of imposing running back that the Eagles can pair with QB Jalen Hurts to give them a great rushing attack. 

Rookie corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have a chance to be real difference-makers and put Philly in position to win the NFC East and make a run at the 49ers. Will they develop quickly enough? 

Green Bay Packers +800  

Head coach Matt LaFleur is no stranger to doing well in the Playoffs; he has been in the conference championship game twice and last year, with Jordan Love at quarterback, his team manhandled Dallas on the road in the Wild Card Round, then cruised to a win. 

So, the Green Bay Packers are looking for the positive momentum from what was a surprising season. Among many observers, there was uncertainty as to how well Love was going to respond in his first year as a starter after sitting for a while watching Aaron Rodgers. 

To show how much he had learned as the season progressed, Love threw for 18 touchdowns with one interception over the last eight regular season games. Three of those opponents were playoff teams, including the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. 

Green Bay still has some parts of its overall game that it needs to upgrade, like its defensive unit. But look at it this way, if they were able to follow through on a third quarter lead against the 49ers, they would have played the Lions for the NFC Championship. And, the Packers had already beaten them at Ford Field during the regular season. So, maybe they’re not all that far away. 

NFC Conference Sleepers 

With exciting offseason moves and solid NFL Drafts, these NFC sleepers could potentially rise up to challenge for the NFC Championship:  

Atlanta Falcons +1200 

No one doubts that the Atlanta Falcons will have an offense that runs smoother and be more productive with Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback. Well, that’s provided he is able to come all the way back from surgery on his Achilles. With a healthy Cousins, they may be able to win an NFC South title.  

But Cousins has been down this road before. And getting over the hump has been the real problem. As of right now, Cousins, who has been the beneficiary of not one, but two of the richest contracts ever given to a quarterback, has only one postseason victory to his credit. 

Chicago Bears +1600  

What keeps the Chicago Bears from the lower tiers of this NFL prop is the anticipation and excitement surrounding quarterback Caleb Williams, who went first in the 2024 NFL Draft. Naturally, after CJ Stroud found success in Houston as a rookie QB, people know it is possible elsewhere.  

Certainly, we believe Williams will do better than the undersized Bryce Young (Carolina). But he may experience more growing pains than Stroud. In fact, if he didn’t, he’d definitely be the exception.  

On the plus side, the Bears have endeavored to give him a real receiving corps, which they haven’t had in the Windy City for a while (adding Keenan Allen via trade and drafting Rome Odunze). In college, Williams was mentored by Lincoln Riley, who has recently sent a few Pro Bowl quarterbacks into the NFL (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts). Could this be the year that Chicago reestablishes itself as a true NFC contender? 

Los Angeles Rams +1600 

Losing Aaron Donald (retirement) is important not just because of the numerous plays he made, but because of the kind of attention he gets from opposing blockers, freeing up other defenders. So that’s the challenge for the Los Angeles Rams heading into the 2024-25 NFL season.  

If there is “good news” about it, the Rams will have a chance to throw some different defensive looks at opposing teams. 

One of the factors to evaluate, relatively to this prop, involves the likelihood of a team getting to the Playoffs. We’d say the Rams have a chance at one of the Wild Cards. They are in a better position than Seattle or Arizona to be an NFC West runner-up behind San Francisco. And, with an explosive offense, this team could be a sleeper in the postseason.  

Possible NFC Championship Contenders in 2025-26 

In all likelihood, these NFC teams are still a year or two away from being real NFC contenders:  

Minnesota Vikings +2300  

I can’t see the Minnesota Vikings as anything but a team in transition. Sure, they have paid Justin Jefferson enough to keep him around, and Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson are damn good running mates. But it may take them an entire season to break in a new quarterback (which we assume is going to be JJ McCarthy), and they aren’t going to be any better with him (at least at the outset) as they were with Kirk Cousins. 

Seattle Seahawks +3300 

The Seattle Seahawks have some work on infrastructure to do, as criticism came upon previous coach Pete Carroll for not concentrating enough on bolstering the offensive and defensive lines.  

New coach Michael Macdonald is going to put his own stamp on this defensive unit, and Seattle has acquired Sam Howell as insurance in case Geno Smith becomes the old Geno Smith again. There’s new blood in the Pacific Northwest; the ‘Hawks go from an aging (71) head coach to one who’ll be only 37 when training camp begins. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +3300  

Last year’s NFC South champion is seen as a longshot, perhaps because they haven’t made too many bold moves to improve themselves. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope that they can compensate for some departures on defense.  They also hope to find a consistent running game somewhere and that QB Baker Mayfield can come up with an encore after last year’s comeback performance. 

New Orleans Saints +3500 

To win this prop, you have to be able to navigate your way through a Playoff bracket, but first you have to make the Playoffs. In his ten-year career as a starting quarterback in the NFL, Derek Carr has been in one playoff game, and he lost it. The New Orleans Saints have no shot at winning the NFC as they won’t even make the 2024-25 NFL Playoffs.  

No Chance at Making NFC Championship Game 

These four NFL teams have no chance at even making the NFC Championship game: 

Arizona Cardinals +5000  

The Arizona Cardinals are rebuilding, and obviously drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. is a big part of that. The defense has been terrible, especially against the run, and that has to be corrected before we can talk about them being even a candidate for a Wild Card spot. 

New York Giants +5000 

The New York Giants looked like they might be going upward after the 2022 season, but things went downhill quickly. Brian Daboll is no longer a budding genius, but simply a guy who’s looking to hold onto his job.  

And, although they wouldn’t admit it, management is having second thoughts about the big contract they gave QB Daniel Jones. Actions speak louder than words, and they would have made a deal to get into the top three of the draft (to get a QB) if they could. New York is destined to finish last in the NFC East division. 

Washington Commanders +6000  

The Washington Commanders hope that an infusion of new blood, which includes head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, is going to have a huge positive effect. But this defense has a long way to go. Baby steps first. They will finish higher than the Giants in the division and show signs of future potential by the end of the season. 

Carolina Panthers +12500 

There is certainly opportunity in the weak NFC South for a few wins. But the best hope here for new head coach Dave Canales is that he and his offensive staff can mold Bryce Young into a serviceable NFL quarterback during this season. Currently, the Carolina Panthers are pegged to be one of the worst NFL teams for the upcoming season and they have no shot at even making the Playoffs.  

2024-25 NFC Championship Predictions  

Now that we’ve laid out the prospects of each NFC team above, let’s take a look at some of the top NFC Conference prop bets and make our predictions: 

2024-25 NFC #1 Seed 

The team that clinches the #1 seed in the NFC will have home-field advantage throughout the Playoffs including a first-round bye. These are huge advantages for any team as it could be the difference between a Super Bowl appearance or an early NFC Playoff exit.  

Looking over the schedules for the NFC favorites, the Packers (.526) have the toughest strength of schedule as they’re tied with the 4^th hardest overall. The Lions (.509) are 11^th, while the Cowboys (.505) and 49ers (.505) are tied for 12^th.  

The one NFC favorite that has the easiest schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 NFL season is the Eagles (.491). Tied for 21^st hardest schedule in the league, Philly is poised for a big season if they can stay healthy.  

The 49ers have the most balanced roster heading into the season, but the Eagles have loaded up with talent onboth sides of the ball. Adding running back Saquon Barkley is going to make this Philly offense one of the best in the NFL. With an influx of talent and an easier strength of schedule, I like the Eagles to bounce back from last year’s disappointment and finish as the top seed in the NFC. 

Bet: Philadelphia Eagles +650 

To Reach 2024-25 NFC Championship Game 

Since I picked the Eagles to finish with the top seed, it gives them a higher chance of making the NFC Championship game because they will have home field in the Playoffs and a first-round bye.  

Joining the Eagles in the NFC Championship game should be the 49ers. This team is far too talented to get tripped up in earlier NFC Playoff rounds. With Super Bowl experience, a solid QB, balance on both sides of the ball, and plenty of playmakers all over the field, San Francisco can almost punch their ticket for an NFC Championship game spot as early as October.  

We’re going to get a rematch from the 2022-23 NFC Championship game where the 49ers came up short due to injuries to their quarterbacks.  

Bet: San Francisco 49ers (-140), Philadelphia Eagles (+260) 

2024-25 NFC Championship Winner 

The last few years have seen San Francisco and Philadelphia enter the season and NFC Championship games as odds-on favorites to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. This year, there’s a real three-team race for the conference crown between the 49ers, Lions and Eagles.  

Sure, the Cowboys will make some noise but they will get bounced early in the postseason like usual. Additionally, the Packers feel like they’re a season away from being a real threat to win the NFC.  

If you want a potential sleeper pick, take the Rams with that explosive offense. They always play the 49ers tough and should be one of the top offenses in the NFC. However, their defense will need to play at a high level for this team to make a deep run in the Playoffs.  

With that said, it’s hard to argue against a 49ers vs. Eagles NFC Championship game matchup. The two teams are stacked with talent and have more postseason experience over the other contenders.  

As for the winner, I’m taking the Eagles and the value that comes with their +650 betting odds. This team has an easier schedule, a loaded roster, a desire to vindicate themselves from last year’s debacle, and the leadership to get them back into the Super Bowl from the ownership to the front office to the veterans on the field.  

Bet: Philadelphia Eagles (+650) 

Which NFC Division Wins The 2024-25 NFC Championship? 

• NFC West (+140) 

• NFC North (+225) 

• NFC East (+280) 

• NFC South (+800) 

It’s clear that the NFC South will be the weakest division in the NFC this year. In fact, it might just be the worst division in all of football. The NFC East will be a two-team race between the Cowboys and the Eagles, which I believe Philly wins.  

The NFC North is going to beat each other up all year long and it will be a war of attrition as to which team wins. The NFC West has the 49ers head-and-shoulders above the rest, but don’t be surprised if the Rams make some noise this year.  

With that said, I like the Eagles to finish as the top seed in the NFC and to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. At +280 odds, the NFC East is my pick for this NFL prop bet. The cherry on the top is the solid value that it provides as the third longest option for this wager.  

Bet: NFC East (+280)