It should surprise nobody that when you lay a beat down on a solid team like the Packers, you are likely to be a favorite in your next game. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday at noon PT in the 2013 NFC Championship Game, and the 49ers have opened as favorites. The line initially opened at -3 at the Las Vegas Hilton, but it has been moved up to -3.5 with heavy early action coming in on the 49ers.

Heading into the Falcons-Seahawks game, I figured if the Falcons won it would be a small line, with the Falcons as a point or two favorites. Given their late game collapse and escape with the win, it is not surprising to me that odds-makers installed the 49ers as favorites. And it would seem the betting public thinks even that initial three point line wasn't enough.

It's going to be interesting to see how this line moves throughout the week. I know a lot of people don't like being favorites, but there is no getting around the fact that the 49ers are favorites in this game. We'll see how they come out with the target squarely on their back.