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NFC Championship Prediction: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

Friday, January 20, 2012

by Frank Martin

NFC Championship Prediction: New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

With quarterback Eli Manning back at practice Thursday after missing one day with a stomach bug, the New York Giants have no reason to feel queasy entering Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the host San Francisco 49ers.

Even though they are facing the league's top-rated defense, the Giants are riding a four-game winning streak and carrying the swagger of a team that feels it is destined to win the Super Bowl.

"We are not going to be denied at this point," safety Antrel Rolle said. "We have one (goal in) mind, to win a championship." New York certainly looked the part after going into Green Bay last weekend and shutting down the league's highest-scoring team in a convincing 37-20 victory over the No. 1-seeded Packers.

San Francisco also showed its mettle in ousting the New Orleans Saints 36-32, scoring twice in the final 2 1/2 minutes to sink the NFL's second-highest scoring team.

The Niners have reason to like their chances, particularly since they own a 27-20 victory over the Giants on Nov. 13.

- New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers
When: 6:30 PM ET, Sunday, January 22, 2012
Where: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
TV: FOX, 6:30 p.m. ET.
Check Live NFL Football Odds on SBG Global Sportsbook .

SBG Global Sportsbook currently have the 49ers listed as 2½-point favorites versus the Giants, while the game's total is sitting at 42.

New York Giants (11-7): New York has permitted only 50 points during its four-game winning streak – a remarkable turnaround after surrendering an average of 36 points in its previous four games. WR Hakeem Nicks has been the star of the postseason for the Giants, hauling in 13 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns. He's only the third wideout (Jerry Rice, Larry Fitzgerald) with two games of 100 yards and two TDs in one postseason. Nicks changed the momentum of last week's game by snatching a Hail Mary pass as time expired in the first half. Manning threw for a playoff-high 330 yards with three touchdowns and an interception to improve to 6-3 in the postseason, including a 4-1 mark on the road. DE Osi Umenyiora, who missed the first meeting with the 49ers, had two of New York's four sacks last week.

San Francisco 49ers (14-3): San Francisco allowed an NFC-low 14.3 points per game, but its offense came up huge when QB Alex Smith directed two long scoring drives to KO Drew Brees and the Saints. Smith scored on a 28-yard bootleg with 2:11 to play before throwing the game-winning TD pass to TE Vernon Davis with 9 seconds to play. It was one of two scores for Davis, who turned in a monster effort with seven receptions for 180 yards – a record yardage total for tight ends. RB Frank Gore had 89 yards on 13 carries, his best performance since ripping off five straight 100-yard games from Weeks 4-9. Hindered by injuries, Gore had zero yards on six carries in the first matchup against New York. The Niners sacked Brees three times and picked him off twice last week. Carlos Rogers intercepted Manning twice on Nov. 13.

Sports Betting

1. When Manning (2004) and Smith (2005) square off Sunday, it will mark just the second time that two quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall will meet in a conference title game.

2. San Francisco’s Jim Harbaugh can become the sixth rookie head coach to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

3. The Giants are 4-0 in NFC Championship Games, including a 15-13 win over the 49ers after the 1990 season.

NFL FOOTBALL PREDICTION: Giants 20, 49ers 16. New York's defense has befuddled Atlanta and Green Bay and continues the trend against San Francisco.

Bet on NFL Football Conference Playoff games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!

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alex smith - antrel rolle - candlestick park - carlos rogers - drew brees - eli manning - frank gore - hakeem nicks - jim harbaugh - new york giants

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