While betting on divisional outcomes is totally worth it, a great way to really cash in is betting on conference futures. The NFC Championship will be held on Sunday, January 28th, with the location yet to be determined. Of course, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers in last season’s title game and amid their dominant campaigns, the two teams are among the favorites to win the NFC. The Eagles are sitting at +195, while the Niners sit at +200. The surging Dallas Cowboys, who continue to thrive under Dak Prescott, are also at +400. After the Detroit Lions in fourth at +650, it tails off dramatically, with the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints with odds steeper than +2500 each. Below, we’ll discuss the NFC Championship futures.
Is it really any surprise to see the Eagles at the top of this list? Philly has the best record in the NFL at 10-1 and looks more than capable of getting back to the Super Bowl in February after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the year. While their numbers across aren’t as dominant as in 2022, this Philly team is extremely solid on both sides of the ball. Jalen Hurts continues to come up with clutch plays despite throwing 10 interceptions. Hurts beat the Buffalo Bills with his legs in Week 12 and is truly one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league.
Philly is riding a five-game winning streak right now and will face the 49ers on Sunday in a rematch of the NFC Championship. Perhaps that will be a preview of January’s title game? It’s possible. The Niners and Cowboys are essentially the Eagles’ only threats, although the Lions are also a sneaky good team that could make some noise in the playoffs.
49ers (+200)
San Francisco does have it all. An elite offense and defense, countless weapons on both sides of the ball, and a fantastic QB in Brock Purdy. He’s fully thriving in his first year as the starter, completing 70.2% of his throws for 2,871 yards and 19 touchdowns against only six INTs. Although some critics believe Purdy is only playing well because of the players around him, that’s simply not true. Purdy is a solid signal-caller with a great understanding of the position. That being said, it does help to have guys like Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk around him.
The 49ers are top-three in total yards and points scored while allowing a league-low 15.5 points per contest. After a disappointing three-game skid, San Fran has now scratched off three straight victories, beating the Jaguars, Buccaneers, and a divisional rival in the Seahawks. The Eagles are easily the Niners’ most difficult game left on the schedule and you better believe revenge will be on their mind after how last year’s NFC Championship turned out where Purdy got hurt.
Cowboys (+400)
I know, I know. The Cowboys are always discussed as a contender then end up dropping the ball in the playoffs. We’ve seen that too many times before. But, perhaps things are truly different this time around. Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his life, throwing for 23 touchdowns and 2,935 yards for 23 touchdowns against only six picks. He’s also ran for 151 yards. Dak has surpassed the 300-yard mark in four of his last five games and even threw for 404 yards a few weeks ago in a big win over the New York Giants.
If Prescott continues to play at such a high level, the sky is the limit for America’s Team. After all, they are first in the league in points and have a dominant defense from their pass rush to their secondary. The Cowboys will end up being a Wild Card since the Eagles are in first in the NFC East but that shouldn’t stop them from making some noise. That being said, their remaining schedule isn’t easy, with the Seahawks, Eagles, Bills, and Dolphins up next. Let’s see what this team is made of.
Lions (+650)
The Lions had the makings of a team that could be good very soon with how they ended the 2022 campaign. Needless to say, Detroit is ready to contend. Dan Campbell’s squad is first in the NFC North at 8-3 and should win the division. The Minnesota Vikings are second with a 6-6 record. Jared Goff has resurrected himself in Motown, Amon-Ra St. Brown is a legitimate weapon downfield, and Jahmyr Gibbs is a true Swiss Army knife. He’s formed a lethal partnership with David Montgomery in the Detroit backfield.
However, Detroit is coming off a worrying loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving where Jordan Love destroyed their defense. Goff also had his worth game of the season, fumbling the football three times. We’ll see how they respond in Week 13 against the Saints.
NFC Championship Futures Picks
The Cowboys will likely choke again. The Eagles and 49ers are the best bets given their playoff experience. One of them will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Quinn Allen is a journalist who specializes in writing sports betting previews. He holds a senior editor position at ClutchPoints. He has been contributing to Vegas Betting as a writer since 2022.