Bucs vs. Packers NFC Championship Game odds, spread, weather: Aaron Rodgers' first title game start at home; Tampa Bay eyes historic Super Bowl 55 trip

For the first time in his Hall of Fame career, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will play in an NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field this Sunday with the top-seeded Packers as opening 3.5-point favorites on the William Hill Sportsbook NFL odds against the wild card and fifth-seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's the first – and maybe only – time that Rodgers will face off against Tom Brady in the postseason.

Rodgers is 1-3 straight up in four career NFC title games, winning following the 2010 season in Chicago. Green Bay would go on to win its lone Super Bowl under Rodgers, who should be named the NFL MVP Award winner for the third time in his career on Super Bowl 55 weekend. The Packers were in the NFC title game last season, too, but were dominated in a 37-20 loss at San Francisco. It's their first time hosting the NFC title game since being upset by the Giants following the 2007 season. That was Brett Favre's final game with Green Bay.

The Pack advanced this time with a fairly easy 32-18 home win over the Rams on Saturday night. The Packers' defense was the story of that game in allowing just 244 yards. Rodgers threw for 296 yards and two scores and rushed for a TD. The Packers' 484 yards were nearly 100 more than the most the Rams had allowed this season (390).

Brady, who also has won three regular-season MVP Awards, is in a conference title game for an incredible 14th time and is 9-4 in the previous 13 – all coming with the Patriots. Only three franchises have played in more conference title games than Brady: San Francisco and Pittsburgh with 16 each and New England with 15. The quarterback with the second-most conference title game appearances is Joe Montana with seven.

Brady improved to 14-2 in divisional round games with Sunday's 30-20 upset in New Orleans; the Saints had swept the Bucs rather easily during the regular season. TB12 (2000, 2010, 2020) will join Johnny Unitas (1950, 1960, 1970) as the only quarterbacks to start a conference championship game in three different decades.

The Bucs picked off Drew Brees three times Sunday in sending Brees to expected retirement. It was the first three-pick playoff game of his legendary career. In the last 20 postseasons, teams are now 52-3 when they have a turnover margin of plus-3 or better as Tampa did. The Bucs would become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their own stadium with another upset Sunday.

The Packers will sell about 6,500 tickets for the NFC Championship Game. The early forecast for Sunday is a high of 30 and low of 28. Chance of snow 60% and snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Tampa Bay is 1-15 SU in its past 16 trips to Green Bay. 

In Week 6 in Tampa, the Packers were 3-point favorites against the spread but hammered 38-10 by the Bucs. Rodgers was awful that day in completing just 16 of 35 for 160 yards and two picks. The Pack totaled 201 yards. Brady threw for two scores.

Kansas City beating Green Bay remains the exacta Super Bowl 55 favorite priced +350 at William Hill. Tampa Bay over Buffalo is the +950 long shot.

Early Super Bowl 55 lines via William Hill

• Bucs vs. Chiefs (-2.5, 55)
• Bucs vs. Bills (pick'em, 53.5)
• Packers vs. Chiefs (-2.5, 56)
• Packers vs. Bills (+1, 54)

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