The NFL’s final four teams are set.
The defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will go on the road to face the No. 1 seeded Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship. The Detroit Lions are headed to the NFC Championship in San Francisco against the 49ers.
Despite the betting lines being open for a week, there hasn’t been too much movement in either game. Both are expected to remain within one score.
All that’s left to do is pick some winners. Let’s get into it.
Name | Last Week | Playoffs | YTD |
Christian D’Andrea | 1-3 | 5-5 | 144-131-7 |
Prince Grimes | 1-3 | 4-6 | 142-133-7 |
Charles Curtis | 1-3 | 5-5 | 133-126-7 |
Blake Schuster | 2-2 | 4-6 | 132-143-7 |
Robert Zeglinski | 4-0 | 7-3 | 123-120-7 |
Opening Line: Ravens -3.5
Schuster: Chiefs +3.5
I think the Ravens win outright, but this game will be a shootout between two elite quarterbacks and probably come down to whoever has the ball last. So I’m using the same logic as when I picked Kansas City over Buffalo last week. I don’t want to get killed by the hook.
Grimes: Ravens -3.5
Patrick Mahomes tends to make me pay for picking against him, but Baltimore is the best team he’ll have faced and we’ve seen them beat better teams by more.
Curtis: Chiefs +3.5
This will be a close game and one that I could see the Chiefs winning outright, so I’m loving that extra half-point. That said: Patrick Mahomes has looked vulnerable at times this whole year. Sooooo … at least they cover.
Zeglinski: Ravens -3.5
With all due respect to Patrick Mahomes, I don’t see how the Chiefs score enough against the only truly complete juggernaut remaining. Whatever hex Kansas City has on Buffalo, it does NOT have on Baltimore.
D’Andrea: Chiefs +3.5
I dunno man, feels like too many points against Patrick Mahomes.
Opening Line: 49ers -7
Schuster: Lions +7
Dan Campbell’s offense knows how to keep things churning when the quarterback play gets shaky. I’m not sure the 49ers can say the same for when Brock Purdy sputters. If Deebo Samuel does play, it’ll likely be in diminished role. Give me a Lions team that isn’t afraid to muddy things up.
Grimes: Lions +7
This spread just feels a little disrespectful to what Detroit has accomplished this year, especially considering how vulnerable the Niners have looked at times. Give me the points.
Curtis: Lions +7
I seriously don’t get this spread. The Niners are dominant and are at home. But Deebo Samuel is banged up, Brock Purdy looked a lot more Mr. Irrelevant-y last week … you have to take the points here.
Zeglinski: Lions +7
Brock System Purdy almost literally threw away another 49ers’ NFC title game appearance. The upstart Lions — who led the NFL in QB pressure percentage this year — should be licking their chops.
D’Andrea: Lions +7
Karma is Brock Purdy finally getting some of his interceptable passes picked off. Crap wait I think I did this wrong.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.