And then there were four...

There are now just four teams vying for a place in Super Bowl XL. Who will make it? Here are our thoughts on the AFC and NFC Championships.

Denver Broncos v Pittsburgh Steelers
Both sides rely on a strong running game and solid defence, so this game looks like being very evenly matched. Sporting Index is predicting a 2 to 4 point victory for Denver, and home field advantage is expected to give them a slight edge. The altitude at the Mile High Stadium is also a factor, as the Broncos impressive home record over the last decade shows.

The quarter-backs could be the key to this match, as both sides could find it difficult to impose their running games. With pressure on Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) and Jake Plummer (Broncos) to make plays, the game could be decided by the player who comes out on top in terms of scrambling. Don't be surprised if this one is decided in overtime.

Seattle Seahawks v Carolina Panthers
Seattle have the best record in the NFC, and with home advantage they go into this game as favourites. Sporting Index think this will be a tight game though, predicting a 3 to 5 points victory for the Seahawks. The home side's running-back, Shaun Alexander, is their biggest weapon, but even the NFL's MVP could find it tough going against the Panthers' defence.

Carolina certainly have the potential to win this game, despite it being their third consecutive game on the road. The recent loss of running-back DeShaun Foster to injury is not a huge blow, as replacement Nick Goings is an adequate stand-in. The key to success for the Panthers will be getting the ball to wide receiver Steve Smith. He is quite simply unplayable, as he showed against Chicago last weekend. However, if Seattle can pressurise the Carolina quarter-back, Smith may not see enough of the ball to win this one.

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