Championship Sunday Preview and Predictions

Oct 18, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll (left) shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh after the game at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Championship

 San Francisco 49ers (12-4) at Seattle Seahawks (13-3)

5:30 PM CST, Fox

Line: Seahakws -3, O/U 40

This will be Part III of the Niners and Seahawks matchups of the season.  So far, the home team has held serve in the series, which doesn’t bode well for the Niners.  Furthermore, the Seahawks have dominated the Niners in Seattle the last couple of times they’ve played.   Chalk up at least part of that to the Seahawks fans, about the loudest you’ll ever come across.

Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carrol don’t like each other, but they “respect each other.” Sure they do.  They’re knotted up at 6 wins apiece, so this will be the big tiebreaker.  Kaepernick has struggled in Seattle, but the Niners add Michael Crabtree to the mix in this game.

The Seahawks offense has been trending downward as the season has progressed.  Russell Wilson has looked vulnerable and the Seahawks haven’t had the some production they enjoyed earlier in the year.  But for them, it’s all about the Defense anyway.

Prediction: Anquan Bolden made a big difference last season for the Ravens to get to the Super Bowl and he’ll be a difference maker against the Seahawks.  The Niners find a way to silence the Legion of Boom and Seattle’s famous 12’s.

Niners 19 – Seahawks 17

As you watch the games, I’d encourage you to see just how the Bears compare to these final four teams.  I think the Seahawks create a great blueprint for the Bears defense to follow.  And as you see Brady operate, just keep in mind that it’s that consistency of the offense that the Bears hope to enjoy with Cutler and Trestman in a few years.

What do you think?  Make your predictions below in the Comments.