Midweek Leans on the NFL Conference Championship Games
There's no doubt these are the best teams in football. All four deserve to be playing in the conference championships in late January on the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
The NFL's Final Four is here.
After 271 regular season and 10 playoff games, the NFL has reached the final four. There's no doubt these are the best teams in football. All four deserve to be playing in the conference championships in late January on the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
Both games are predicted to be close, which means excitement for fans, but also greater uncertainty for bettors.
Accordingly, we've made a few early predictions on each game (more like leans, as opinions can change, just like the weather) -- including picking a side, the total, and a few props worth considering.
Here's the odds as of Wednesday afternoon at SPREADS.CA:
San Francisco at Philadelphia (-2.5) O/U: 46.5
They say "defence wins championships." If so, the 49ers plus the points are the pick.
This is a contest of opposing strengths. The #1-ranked defence (SFO) faces the #2-ranked offense (PHI). The 49ers defence has been a beast, and is likely to slow down the Eagles' explosive offense.
We like the 49ers to possibly win outright in an upset and be the NFC's team in the Super Bowl.
We're also going with the UNDER, especially after all four games last week fell under the number.
Our favorite prop is Eagles' TE Dallas Goedert OVER 47.5 yards. He's gone over his yardage total in 10/13 games. The 49ers will pressure QB Jalen Hurts, which means Goedert becomes a popular safety valve and should make more catches, and get yardage.
Cincinnati at Kansas City (-1) O/U: 47
The AFC championship game should be a treat.
No team is hotter over the past 26 games than the Bengals, who have gone a blistering 21-5 ATS in that stretch. Cincinnati has also won its last ten games (13-3 ATS in their last 15). Not just beating, but hammering Buffalo last week gives this team the confidence needed to pull off yet another road upset.
We also like a fully healthy Joe Burrow at QB over Mahomes, who might not be 100 percent following an ankle injury last week.
It's tempting to bet UNDER 47, since Kansas City is 54-38-1 at Arrowhead with Andy Reid as coach to the UNDER. However, with two powerful offenses, the total may have dipped too low here. So, the total is a pass.
On props, we love Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase OVER on receptions and OVER yardage props. He's been Burrow's favourite target and should get plenty of passes against a vulnerable Chiefs' secondary.
