2022 NFL Conference Championship SU Betting Preview
The Kansas City Chiefs were the only favorite to win their divisional round game, which is why the 2-seed Chiefs host the 4-seed Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship. Over in the NFC Championship, the 6-seed San Francisco 49ers travel to Los Angeles to take on the NFC West rival 4-seed Rams. Which teams win each championship game and marches to Super Bowl 56? Keep reading for moneyline NFL odds, analysis, and free picks for the NFC and AFC Championships.
2022 NFL Conference Championship Straight Up Betting Preview
Championship Sunday is set! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/saQq7NXXXs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2022
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AFC Championship – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- NFL Odds: Bengals +277 / Chiefs -333
Why the Bengals win straight up
Cincinnati already has a win over the Chiefs in Kansas City. In a must win Week 17 game, the Bengals stepped up, beating the Chiefs 34-31. Joe Burrow was unstoppable. He blasted KC with a 30-of-39 performance for 446 yards and 4 touchdown passes. Kansas City’s defense, which had been playing well for most of the second half of the season, had no answer for Burrow. Not much has changed since the Week 17 game. If the Bengals could beat the Chiefs in Kansas City once, they can do it again.
Why the Chiefs win straight up
Kansas City doesn’t quit. In their divisional round overtime victory over the Bills, the Chiefs were down by a field goal with just 13 seconds left. All Patrick Mahomes did was rally the Chiefs to tie the game.
Then in overtime, the Chiefs won the coin toss and then proceeded to march to the end zone to end the game. Kansas City knows the Bengals won the regular season matchup. They’ll be more prepared to end Cincinnati’s Cinderella season than they were in the Week 17 loss.
Who Will Win the 2022 AFC Championship?
On paper, the Chiefs look like an easy winner, but the Bengals have a major advantage. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t throw a TD versus the Titans, in fact he threw a pick, and the Bengals still beat the Tennessee.
Cincinnati’s defense is playing it’s best ball of the season while Chiefs’ safety Tyrann Mathieu may have to sit this game out due to a concussion. Mathieu is KC’s most important secondary player. Burrow torched KC in the regular season victory when Mathieu played. Without Mathieu, Joe could have things his way. Rookie Ja’Marr Chase has been unstoppable.
So if the Chiefs decide to contain Chase, running back Joe Mixon could get loose. Either way, the Bengals have an advantage having already beaten the Chiefs. If the moneyline offered different odds, KC might be the play. But at -333, the Chiefs are a bad bet. Cincinnati is the team to back to win straight up.
2022 AFC Championship SU Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
NFC Championship – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
- NFL Odds: S49ers +154 / Rams -179
Why the 49ers win straight up
San Francisco swept the Rams during the regular season. The first game wasn’t close. SF blasted Los Angeles 31-10. The second game was much closer, but San Francisco rallied from down 17 points to beat the Rams 27-24 in overtime. San Francisco is in the Rams’ head. The 49ers know they can beat the Rams while the Rams might believe they can’t beat the 49ers.
Why the Rams win straight up
The Los Angeles Rams team San Francisco faces in the NFC Championship is a far cry from the team they battled during the regular season. Not only did the Rams blast the Arizona Cardinals 34-11 in their wild card game, but they took out the defending Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers 27-24 in the divisional round. Los Angeles has momentum heading home to take on the Niners.
Who Will Win the 2022 NFC Championship?
It’s difficult to beat a team 3 straight times, but in this case, the 49ers should do it. Notice we used the word should. San Francisco is the better team. The quarterbacks are even, but SF has the much better rushing attack with Deebo Samuel and Elijah Mitchell than the Rams do with Sony Michel and Cam Akers.
The defenses aren’t on the same level, either. Although the Rams have an excellent defensive line, the secondary is pedestrian after Jalen Ramsey. Jimmy G. should have success throwing the ball. Any way we look at it, San Francisco offers great odds to beat the Rams straight up. The San Francisco 49ers are the moneyline play.
2022 NFC Championship SU Pick: San Francisco 49ers
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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.
