All of a sudden, there’s just three games of NFL left in the 2023 season and the pointy end of the year is officially here.
Four teams remain and will do battle for a spot in the Super Bowl this weekend.
The Ravens, Chiefs, 49ers and Lions have all had incredible campaigns but only two can advance this week and only one will lift the Lombardi Trophy in just over two weeks time.
Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, we have a big AFC and NFC Championship game that needs to be covered. Let’s start there.
I’ve done a deep dive into the markets to see if we can get a few green ticks this weekend.
Here is my preview of the Conference Championship!
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have to get through Mahomes and the Chiefs if they want a shot at Super Bowl glory.
The bookies have the Ravens as $1.46 favourites in this game, but the Chiefs in the playoffs are such a different animal that their $2.70 head to head price is worth a flirt on regardless of how I see this game playing out.
The Ravens defence hasn’t given a single team anything so far this year and they were pretty brutal last week against the Texans.
Lamar Jackson should be the MVP this season and I like him to hit 50+ rushing yards as well as two passing touchdowns.
It sounds like Lamar’s favourite target Mark Andrews will return from injury this week and that should greatly improve an already very good Baltimore outift.
As tempting as the outright upset is, the better play here is the Chiefs to cover the 3.5 point line.
Playoff Patty is one of the most unstoppable forces we’ve ever seen in the league and while the Ravens have been incredible this season and I really want to see Lamar win a Super Bowl, the Chiefs could win this 14+ and I don’t think anyone would bat an eyelid.
My Bets
- Chiefs +3.5 @ $1.94
SGM: $5.69
- Lamar Jackson Under 65.5 Rushing Yards @ $1.88
- Lamar 2+ Passing Touchdowns @ $1.90
- Patrick Mahomes 250+ Passing Yards @ $1.96
Both these games are so good aren’t they?
The Lions will need to overcome the super team that is the 49ers if they want a shot at the Super Bowl and I truly think that they can do it.
Detroit has a really exciting offense and a defense that should really frustrate Brock Purdy.
The Ravens showed a few weeks back that if you get in Purdy’s face and force him to make errors that this San Fran team can be beat.
I see a world where Aidan Hutchinson is in that 9ers backfield a truckload in this game and if he does that, the Lions are a better chance than their $3.70 price.
Lions to cover the +7 line is where I’m leaning and backing two of the most consistent players in the league, Christian McCaffrey and Amon-Ra St Brown should hopefully see us collect a couple of green slips in this game.
Lions +7 @ $1.90
SGM $3.98
- Christian McCaffrey Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $1.30
- Christian McCaffrey 90+ Rushing Yards @ $1.80
- Amon-Ra St Brown Over 85.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88