Chiefs will cover while Rams may have issues
Top wagering picks for the NFL conference championship round based on these early lines from Tipico Sportsbook:
Bengals at Chiefs
Joe Burrow and the upstart Bengals are standing in the way of a third straight Super Bowl appearance for Patrick Mahomes and Co. And Cincy certainly should have K.C.’s attention after beating the visiting Chiefs 34-31 in Week 17 as Burrow threw for 446 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those scores went to rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase, who reeled in 11 of 12 targets for 266 yards. Mahomes threw for 259 yards and two TDs in the game, but he’s a whole different beast at home in the postseason, guiding the Chiefs to a 7-1 playoff record at Arrowhead Stadium while averaging 318.8 aerial yards per outing and tossing an amazing 23-1 TD pass-to-interception ratio. The Bengals, meanwhile, just notched the franchise’s first-ever road playoff win in beating the host Tennessee Titans 19-16. But unless Mahomes serves up three costly interceptions like the Titans’ Ryan Tannehill, this will be a hill too steep to climb. Take the CHIEFS (-7.5) to win and cover as Burrow and Co. are still a year or two away from competing at the elite level.
49ers at Rams
These NFC West rivals meet for the third time this season, this time for the right to return to the same stadium in two weeks to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 56. The Rams won the division title, but the Niners swept both meetings, rolling 31-10 at home in Week 10 and overcoming a 17-0 road deficit in Week 18 to prevail 27-24 in overtime and clinch a playoff berth. That sweep extended the 49ers’ winning streak to six straight versus the Rams, with San Francisco covering in five of those meetings as well. The 49ers outrushed LA 291-116 in their two contests this season, but Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and crew have the aerial advantage, and they’ll use that – while avoiding the costly turnovers – to advance to the Big Game on their home field. It will be anything but easy, though, as Jimmy Garoppolo, Deebo Samuel and the 49ERS (+3.5) will hang tough and get the cover. 2021-22 ATS record: 37-23 (1-2 last week)