Odds to Win the 2023 NFC Championship: Welcome to the NFC East Invitational (Archive)
NFL Pick: Dallas Cowboys to Win NFC (+350) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Washington fans have had a rough few years, with their team struggling on the field and their owner making the wrong kind of headlines off of it. This year’s NFL Playoffs likely haven’t done anything to relieve the pain.
The Commanders were the only team from the NFC East left out of the playoff party and, after one weekend of games, the rest of the division is still standing. With four teams remaining in the running to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, three are from the East.
The Eagles are the top seed in the NFC and had a bye last weekend. Despite that, the San Francisco 49ers, the only team not from the NFL’s top division that remains, are the favorite to win the conference, according to NFL futures odds. Those teams will both host NFC East teams this weekend, with the surprising New York Giants headed to Philly and the Dallas Cowboys going to San Fran.
Will the Niners be able to emerge from the East sandwich they’re currently in the middle of? Or will one of the divisional rivals get bragging rights in the NFC East Invitational over the next two weeks?
Who Is the Favorite?
The 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are co-favorites. The Eagles took the top seed in the NFC and were rewarded with a bye last weekend, while everyone else played. They won the East by two games, finishing at 14-3.
That accomplishment should have gained prestige after the division excelled in last weekend’s Wild Card games, but the Eagles find themselves as the second most likely team to win the NFC Championship, according to BetOnline figures odds. Their moneyline stands at +165.
The San Francisco 49ers won the NFC West by four games, finishing at 13-4 and winning their last 10 games of the regular season, then blowing out the Seahawks in last week’s playoff opener. The Niners are the favorites of the remaining four NFC teams, with +145 futures odds.
The Eagles have struggled down the stretch, losing two of their last three games as starting quarterback and MVP candidate Jalen Hurts missed both losses while battling injury. He is not listed on this week’s injury report, however, and is a full participant in practice.
If anyone knows about quarterback injuries, it’s the 49ers, who are on their third starting quarterback of the year. Rookie Brock Purdy, the last pick in this year’s NFL Draft, has been a surprise, winning all six of his starts, including last week’s playoff game, and throwing 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions over that stretch.
The Long(er) Shots
The Giants and Cowboys produced the only upsets of Super Wild Card Weekend. New York knocked off the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings, 31-24, while the Cowboys dominated Tom Brady and the NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-14.
Dallas finished second in the East at 12-5 and has wins over both the Giants and Eagles. The Cowboys have won three of their last four, including last weekend. The Boys have NFL odds of +350 to advance to the Super Bowl as NFC champions.
The Giants battled until the second to last weekend of the season to secure a playoff berth. They finished third in the East, at 9-7-1. They are the longest shot remaining in the field at +1,200.
The Picks
While Hurts is an MVP candidate and Purdy is making a late-season push for Rookie of the Year, the two underdogs appear to have the hottest quarterbacks remaining in the conference playoffs.
Dallas’ Dak Prescott threw for four touchdowns and 305 yards and rushed for another score in a dominant performance against the Bucs, while the Giants’ Daniel Jones became the first player to throw for 200 yards and two scores and rush for 70 in a playoff game.
We like both visiting teams’ chances of springing upsets in the Divisional round this weekend for our NFL picks. Purdy has been magical so far, but it doesn’t take long for the defensive staff to solve a new quarterback sensation.
The Cowboys’ success will depend on the health of defensive stars Jayron Kearse and Micah Parsons, who both left last weekend’s win at Tampa Bay with injuries. The team has received positive reports on both, however, which could clear the way for the Boys to return to the big stage.
TX locals who are fans of the Cowboys and are also looking to make a bet can use these Texas betting sites to do so.
NFL Pick: Dallas Cowboys to Win NFC (+350) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.