NFL picks

So coming off an epic divisional round, I expect the games this weekend to be a little of a let down.

Cincinnati @ Kansas City (-7.5)

Last weekend against the Titans, the Bengals became the first team in NFL post season history to give up 9 sacks and still win. In their last six games, the Bengals are 6-0 ATS (against the spread). In only his second season in the NFL, Joe Burrow will be playing in his first AFC Championship game. Suspect it won’t be his last, but at some point you’d think the young stud would have a deer in the headlights kind of game given everything on the line. On the other sideline, Mr. Grim Reaper and the Chiefs will be playing in their fourth consecutive Championship game. These two teams played each other in Week 17 with the Bengals coming from behind to win 34-31. I’m not putting too much stock in that one as the Chiefs got up 28-17 at halftime and then it felt like they mentally checked out during the break and were busy checking their crypto accounts in the locker room. While I think the Bengals will hang around, the Chiefs are coming off a game where they hung 42 points on an excellent Bills defence and I don’t think the Bengals can keep up. Gonna be a shootout!

The Pick: Chiefs +7.5

Favourite prop bet: Frank Clark to record a sack (+112)

San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams (-3.5)

A nice little NFC West grudge match to decide who goes to the Super Bowl. Coach Shanahan runs the Rams’ show having won six straight against McVay and the boys in blue. In week 18, the 49ers erased a 17-0 deficit and stormed back to punch their ticket to the playoffs in a thrilling OT finish. Despite that tough beat, I think the Rams will come into this game full of confidence and thinking that if they execute their game plan for the full 60-minutes, they’ll be playing at Sofi Stadium in two weeks time for the Lombardi Trophy. The quarterback play from Jimmy G hasn’t been elite in recent weeks, but the 49ers are a determined group with explosive play makers (Deebo Samuel and George Kittle) and a scary good front 7 when healthy. I just don’t think it’s going to be enough against a Rams squad that is loaded on both sides of the ball. Midseason acquisitions Von Miller and OBJ have once again established themselves as game changers and complement the all-world talents of Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Cooper Kupp, and Matt Stafford. I think the 49ers are going to need a couple of gift wrapped turnovers to keep the game within striking distance and I don’t see that happening this week. I guarantee Akers will be sure handed coming off a two-fumble performance last week in Tampa and believe McVay will put his quarterback in a position to eliminate some of the inconsistencies we’ve seen from Stafford over the course of the season. If the Rams O-line can hold up against an relentless 49ers pass rush and buy Stafford an extra beat or two, the Rams receivers are going to cook all night long.

The Pick: Rams (-3.5)

Favourite Prop Bet: OBJ Receiving Yards – O/54.5(-105)