NFL Conference Championships: Best Bets, Picks, & Predictions

The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs featured some exciting games, blowouts, and controversy. With just four teams left standing, the AFC and NFC Championship games will determine who reaches the Super Bowl. 

Let’s discuss some of the best bets, picks, and predictions for the NFL Conference Championships.

Score Prediction: 49ers 27, Eagles 24

The 49ers (13-4) have not lost a game since Week 7 and remain one of the league’s best teams overall. Their defensive effort is elite and their offense features a well-balanced attack of Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel. They will have their hands full with the Eagles, though.

The Eagles (14-3) are far less battle-tested than the 49ers are, but have had a terrific season to this point on the back of Jalen Hurts. The 49ers have the elite defense, but Philadelphia has a terrific receiving corps with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. 

This figures to be an excellent, back-and-forth type of matchup. The 49ers do not have the quarterback play to be able to keep up with Hurts, but they do have a plethora of forces on both ends. 

As previously mentioned, the 49ers have not suffered a loss in three months and we do not anticipate them dropping one to the Eagles here, even on the road. Back the NINERS ML (+120) for a nice plus-odds value play.

We are backing the Niners on the moneyline, so it only makes sense that we take them against the spread as well. It will be a tough path for the Niners considering just how much the Eagles are firing on all cylinders right now, but the Niners are a well-rounded team capable of getting the job done.

Take the NINERS +3 (-120) in what figures to be a close game where the points matter. 

Over each of these teams’ past five games, they are surrendering just a hair over 20 points per game. The 49ers are averaging 33.8 points per game, though, with the Eagles averaging 25.8 points. Even with the defensive might of both teams, they are both capable of putting together massive offensive performances, leading us to back the OVER 46 (-110).

Score Prediction: Bengals 22, Chiefs 21

The Bengals (12-4) are now the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl at multiple sportsbooks. They put together a convincing performance against the Bills in the Divisional Round, a team many evaluators believed had the might to win the Super Bowl themselves. Joe Burrow remains one of the top quarterbacks in the league and after making it to the Super Bowl last season, he has the experience necessary to succeed in this high-pressure environment.

The Chiefs (13-4) are a somewhat flawed team despite their regular season record, but simply put, there is no chance that Patrick Mahomes goes down without a fight on his home turf. This will be a battle between two of the best quarterbacks in the league–one of them being the best–and will likely come down to whoever gets the superior quarterback play.

Bengals vs Chiefs is the matchup that is circled on everyone’s calendar this weekend. The certainty that we will be seeing either Burrow or Mahomes in the Super Bowl this season makes this matchup particularly enticing.

This is the type of game that should remain close from wire to wire. The Bengals are the more well-rounded team in our opinion, but the Chiefs’ dynamic duo of Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce leads an offense that can outpace Cincinnati’s defense. 

With such a close score expected, it is tough to pick a team on the moneyline, but our best bet is on the BENGALS ML (-135) to knock down Mahomes on the road.

Evaluating a pick on against the spread is just as difficult to do as it is for the moneyline. With just a two point spread on most sportsbooks right now, it is one of those situations that might be just too close to call against the spread. 

However, with all things considered, we are doubling down on the Bengals and backing them to cover in addition to winning the game outright. Another thing to consider is that the Chiefs were one of the worst teams in the NFL against the spread this season, checking in at an underwhelming 6-11-1. In contrast, the Bengals were the second-best teams against the spread in the NFL at 13-5.  Take the BENGALS -2 (-110). 

While many evaluators believe they are looking at a potential Burrow vs. Mahomes shootout in the AFC Conference Championships, we see it the other way. 

The Bengals were 7-10-1 against the total during the regular season and the Chiefs were 8-10 in that regard. The Bengals are also surrendering 13.8 points per game across their past six, including just 27 combined points in their playoff matchups with the Ravens and Bills. 

With that being said, we like a play on the UNDER 46.5 (-110).