NFL Playoffs 2018 Lines: Conference Championship Point Spreads, Super Bowl Betting Odds

The latest 2018 NFL playoff betting odds indicate that there is a significant difference between the teams that are facing off in each of Sunday’s conference championship games. One contest features a betting line that could reach double digits by kickoff, and the road team is favored by more than a field goal in the other game.

The New England Patriots are 9.5-point favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium in the 2018 AFC Championship Game, according to OddsShark. The Minnesota Vikings are road favorites in the 2018 NFC Championship Game, laying 3.5 points against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The over/under for the AFC title game is 46.5. Sunday’s second contest is expected to feature fewer points with an over/under of 38.

New England was dominant in their first postseason game of the year, easily covering a 13.5-point spread with a 35-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The game might’ve been even more lopsided than the final score indicated since the Patriots scored 35 unanswered points after an early Tennessee touchdown.

Jacksonville had an impressive win of their own, winning 45-42 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoffs. The Jaguars finished three games behind the No.1 seed Patriots in the regular season, and they’ve reached the conference championship round for the first time since 2000. New England will play in their seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game.

It’s been a while since either the Vikings or Eagles advanced beyond the second round of the postseason. Philadelphia lost on the road to the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009 NFC Championship Game. The following year, Minnesota lost to the New Orleans Saints in overtime.

This year’s Vikings' team got a measure of revenge against the Saints when they defeated New Orleans in the divisional playoffs. Stefon Diggs’ incredible 61-yard catch became the first game-winning touchdown in NFL playoff history that was scored as time expired.

Philadelphia didn’t need a miraculous play to advance to the conference championship round, stopping the Atlanta Falcons near the goal line on their final drive of last weekend’s game. The Eagles won 15-10, totaling just 34 points in their last three games with Nick Foles at quarterback. That’s why they are underdogs Sunday, despite being the No.1 seed and playing at home.

The combination of Foles and the two teams’ defenses is expected to produce a low-scoring game. Minnesota allowed the fewest points during the NFL season, while Philadelphia ranked fourth.

Jacksonville was second in scoring defense and New England was fifth. Both teams had top-five scoring offenses, and they combined to put up 80 points last weekend. The Patriots have scored at least 34 points in each of their last four playoff games.

New England would be the favorite in either potential Super Bowl 2018 matchup. The Eagles would likely be an underdog against either the Patriots or Jaguars.