{"id":36545,"date":"2022-02-03T16:39:23","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T06:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=36545"},"modified":"2022-02-16T22:29:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T12:29:15","slug":"super-bowl-lvi-tips-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2022\/02\/super-bowl-lvi-tips-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Super Bowl LVI Tips & Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Super Bowl LVI kicks off on Monday, February 14 in Los Angeles (AEDT) between the hometown Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals.<\/p>\n

For the first time in eight years, the Super Bowl won\u2019t feature a Manning, a Brady, or a Mahomes, leaving NFL fans feeling a renewed sense of excitement with the promise of \u201csomething different\u201d guaranteed.<\/p>\n

For the Rams, this is a chance to right their wrongs after barely showing up against the Patriots three years ago in Super Bowl LIII, while the Bengals are simply hoping to win their first ring in what is also their first trip to the big dance since 1988.<\/p>\n

Who will be left with holding Lombardi?<\/p>\n

Our best bets for all the key markets can be found in our Super Bowl LVI Preview right here!<\/p>\n

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Cincinnati Bengals<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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The Bengals are the latest example of how important a great quarterback is to a team\u2019s chances at success.<\/p>\n

Two years ago, Cincinnati chose to draft Joe Burrow No. 1 overall instead of an offensive lineman, a slightly controversial decision coming off a 2-14 season.<\/p>\n

In just two years, the former Heisman winner and College Football National Champion has turned the Bengals\u2019 franchise around, leading them to an AFC North title in just his second season, and most importantly, their first Super Bowl berth in 33 years.<\/p>\n

The poise and patience Burrow has shown through college and the NFL has been amazing to watch, and it was again on full display last week when he led his side back from a 21-10 half-time deficit to defeat the heavily favoured Chiefs in overtime.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve said time and time again this season that we\u2019re watching a future Hall of Famer in the making, and if the Bengals are to win their first-ever ring, it\u2019s definitely going to come on the arm of Burrow.<\/p>\n

Not to take anything away from Joe Mixon, but the passing game is paramount to Cincinnati\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n

The Rams held San Francisco, a team with a strong running game, to just 50 yards last week, meaning there\u2019s a good chance we see Burrow attempt a similar number of throws in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, the Bengals are set up to air it out where’ve and whenever the situation calls.<\/p>\n

Rookie receiver Ja\u2019Marr Chase was instrumental in last week\u2019s win over the Chiefs, while Mr. Underrated himself, Tee Higgins, continues to fly under the radar and pose problems deep downfield.<\/p>\n

The Bengals would love to have tight end C.J. Uzomah fit for this game after spraining his MCL in the AFC Championship, but there\u2019s still enough depth on the roster with Chase, Higgins, and Tyler Boyd to choose from.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, on defence, Lou Anarumo\u2019s unit continues to be underestimated by opponents.<\/p>\n

The pass rush was enormous last week in the late stages against the Chiefs, while the Bengals have been one of the toughest teams to covert against on third down all season.<\/p>\n

Overall, when you step back and look at this team on paper, there\u2019s no question they are built to win a Lombardi Trophy now, and for several years to come.<\/p>\n

How this young squad handles the moment of the Super Bowl, let alone another tough \u201croad\u201d environment is the question, but based on everything we\u2019ve seen so far, the current odds about Cincinnati ($2.60\/+4.5) might be a touch over.<\/p>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n

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Los Angeles Rams<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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The Rams are back on the Super Bowl stage for the second time under Sean McVay, and this time, they\u2019ll be hoping they score more than three points.<\/p>\n

The journey up until this point has been a wild one to say the least.<\/p>\n

After trading away Jared Goff to Detroit in exchange for Matthew Stafford, the Rams opened the season 7-1 before things got a little hairy towards the midway point.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, LA\u2019s defence was giving up a stack of points to teams like Green Bay and Jacksonville, setting up a decisive Week 18 game against the San Francisco 49ers to determine the NFC West.<\/p>\n

The Rams would lose that game in overtime and still claim the division, but the result basically put a line through their Super Bowl chances, at least according to experts.<\/p>\n

Like we\u2019ve seen all season though, the Rams quickly found their mojo when it mattered most, rolling right through the Cardinals in the Wild Card Game, putting up a big margin on the Bucs (at least until late), and coming up with a clutch interception last week to seal a nail-biting win over the 49ers.<\/p>\n

With home-field advantage, the Rams go into the Super Bowl as the rightful favourite, and if Stafford continues to play like he has done right throughout the playoffs, they\u2019ll be tough to beat.<\/p>\n

Stafford had some serious turnover concerns during LA\u2019s midseason lull, but he\u2019s rebounded nicely to throw just the one pick during the postseason.<\/p>\n

Like the Bengals, the Rams are also stacked with offensive weapons, led by the league\u2019s leading receiver Cooper Kupp, and Odell Beckham Jr, who has suddenly returned to his former, dominant self after a midseason trade from Cleveland.<\/p>\n

Those two, plus ever-dangerous tight end Tyler Higbee, make up one of the most lethal passing attacks in the game, while LA\u2019s rushing attack can also hurt you in more ways than one.<\/p>\n

They say star players show up when it matters most, and that\u2019s without even mentioning three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Super Bowl champion Von Miller, or Jalen Ramsay.<\/p>\n

Unlike the inexperienced Bengals, the Rams have a different kind of pressure to face in the Super Bowl: expectations.<\/p>\n

Star players like the ones mentioned above are expected to win rings, while Sean McVay also knows this is his chance to right what went wrong against New England three years ago.<\/p>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n

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Best Bet<\/div>\n
Tip: Back the Rams to Cover the Line (-4.5 Points) @ $1.94<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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Unlike in the past, this year\u2019s Super Bowl has a bit of everything: high-scoring offences, two strong pass rushes, as well as two of the youngest and brightest coaches calling plays.<\/p>\n

That said, I think the Bengals\u2019 biggest downfall, the offensive line, costs them a chance at winning a ring.<\/p>\n

Burrow was sacked nine times two weeks ago against Tennessee, the 12th time this season he\u2019s been sacked three or more times in a single game.<\/p>\n

The Rams pass rush is arguably the best in the league, and it\u2019s been feasting recently with five sacks already this postseason.<\/p>\n

Aside from the other obvious factor – home-field advantage – I also think this game boils down to penalties.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati and Los Angeles have been two of the least penalized teams this season, but with the Rams roster featuring more experience and overall maturity, I think they can win the battle with the officials, and ultimately, their first Lombardi Trophy in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\n Bet Now: Cincinnati Bengals vs Los Angeles Rams<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n<\/section>\n
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Best Same Game Multi <\/div>\n
$7.01<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div> \n <\/div> \n
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