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On Sunday, two teams will gain exclusive VIP entry to Super Bowl 58. We have everything you need to make the Conference Championship games more exciting, as wagering on the outcomes and watching your player props hit will elevate your gameday experience and have you looking like an expert to everyone watching the game. 

If your team is still in the NFL’s Final Four this weekend, then winning some bucks adds to the sweet taste of victory … or takes away some of the sting of a loss. If you’re watching with a favorite team already eliminated, riding with some of our best bets here will give you authentic rooting interests while impressing your friends and fellow fans. 

IN TODAY'S BACK OFFICE BUZZ

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES PREVIEW

The AFC Championship Game kicks off first on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS, with Jim Nantz and Tony Romo calling the action. For the first time, the visiting Kansas City Chiefs will attempt to advance to the Super Bowl without the path going through their home digs. 

Patrick Mahomes is 13-3 in the postseason, and Andy Reid will be appearing in his 11th Conference Championship, the second-most ever for a head coach. The defending Super Bowl champions have the edge in postseason winning experience, as Kansas City’s current streak of appearing in six consecutive Conference Championship games is the second-longest in NFL history. 

Lamar Jackson won only his second playoff game in his career last week, but these Ravens wear the look of a team of destiny. Baltimore regularly disposed of quality opponents during the regular season, with an NFL-record 10 wins against teams with winning records, and also defeated six playoff teams. 

The Ravens defense will present a formidable challenge for Mahomes, who has the thinnest receiving crew of his career and finished with 27 TD passes during the regular season after totaling 37-plus in each of the previous three campaigns. Baltimore was the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed (16.5), sacks (60) and takeaways (31) while also leading the NFL in point differential (+203). 

At 6:30 p.m. ET, the Detroit Lions will attempt to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history while 49ers QB Brock Purdy will continue on his quest to defy the naysayers in the NFC Championship Game. Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen will keep you on top of the action on FOX as the 49ers try to stay on track to end their own championship drought, even though it pales in comparison to that of the Lions. 

San Francisco has not won a Super Bowl in 29 years. However, the Lions have not played in an NFL title game since 1957, and this will be only their second Conference Championship appearance. 

The Detroit offense is explosive, as the team became just the second ever to feature four players who scored 10-plus scrimmage TDs during the regular season. Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for a TD in each of his first two playoff games, Amon-Ra St. Brown had seven-plus receptions in each of his first two playoff games, and Jared Goff has passed for 275-plus yards in each of his two playoff games so far this season. 

Reaching the conference title game is a dream come true for Lions fans, but it is familiar territory for San Francisco’s followers. The 49ers will be playing in the NFC Championship Game for the third consecutive season and fourth in the past five. 

Purdy continues to ignore his detractors while rolling up impressive accomplishments. He is just the third QB in the Super Bowl era to reach a Conference Championship game in each of his first two NFL seasons.

The 49ers offense has averaged 334.3 yards over its last four postseason games. Christian McCaffrey rushed for two TDs in the Divisional Round and has averaged 108.8 scrimmage yards per game in five career playoff outings, four of which have been with the 49ers. 

In the Divisional Round, Dre Greenlaw became the first NFL LB in 22 years to record two interceptions in an NFL playoff game. San Francisco held Jordan Love to 194 passing yards last week, and the Niners have won their last five matchups vs Goff dating back to 2019. - Scott Engel

A LOOK AT THIS WEEK’S BETTING LINES

Baltimore Ravens -3.5 (-110) vs Kansas City Chiefs

A lot of people are going to take one look at this line and go, “You’re giving me the option of getting 3.5 points with Mahomes in the playoffs? I’m all the way in on the Chiefs.”

I wouldn’t blame anyone for taking that tactic at all, but this Ravens team will have something to say about it, especially considering some of the Chiefs’ injuries that we’ve seen so far this week. Guard Joe Thuney, a massive part of the Chiefs’ running game, is not practicing and is uncertain to play in this game, while Isiah Pacheco — though he should be active — is dealing with a toe issue.

The Ravens feel set up to attack the Chiefs in a similar way that the Bills did last week: a heavy dose of the running game mixed with some shots downfield. If Josh Allen was able to complete that potential big gainer to Stefon Diggs, we’re possibly discussing Bills-Ravens right now.

Baltimore is set up similarly in that I expect them to utilize Jackson heavily in the run game, with Justice Hill and Gus Edwards as well. With Hill taking more of an active role in the rush share (34% vs Edwards’ 26%) in Baltimore’s game vs the Texans, I took a ladder on his rushing yards, up to 60.

San Francisco 49ers -7 (-115) vs Detroit Lions

No Deebo Samuel, probably, no problem. The Lions are probably one of the few matchups for the 49ers in which the loss of one of their most important players might not hurt too much.

The Lions truly have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL this season, as evidenced by their 31st-ranked passing defense in terms of passing yards allowed. They have been a pass-funnel defense for the vast majority of the season, and you can beat them through the air in a variety of ways.

Addressing the potential Samuel absence, the Niners can replace him by having McCaffrey run full routes out of the backfield, something at which he has always been strong. The Lions linebackers are not great in coverage, so look for Purdy and Co. to take advantage - Sam Wagman

SLEEPER PROP PICKS

Player and game props can be just as fun as betting sides and totals, and we’ll prove it! Scott Engel shares a pair of his favorite props for the Conference Championship games from the Sleeper app. 

Patrick Mahomes Under 1.5 Passing TDs

Mahomes finished with two TD passes against a depleted Bills defense, but he had not thrown for more than one TD pass in five of his six previous games, including the playoffs. Now, he gets a much tougher draw in Baltimore. 

The Ravens allowed an NFL-low 16 TD passes to QBs during the regular season and did not surrender an offensive score in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Baltimore has allowed more than one TD pass in a game only twice in its last seven. 

Christian McCaffrey Over 134.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards

On the Sleeper app, 69.44 percent of the community is leaning to the Over here; I will too based on my expectation that the NFC Championship Game should be a higher-scoring affair. On limited touches last week, Rachaad White demonstrated that a versatile running back can indeed test the Detroit defense, as he averaged 6.1 yards per carry and 9.0 yards per reception.

In five of his final six regular season games, McCaffrey finished with 130-plus yards from scrimmage, and he had 128 in the Divisional Round. I expect some major memorable moments from the San Francisco superstar as he aims to secure a Super Bowl appearance for the first time in his career. 

PARLAY OF THE WEEK

Move on more Championship Round Parlays with Frank Ammirante.

The Parlay of the Week features two running backs who have prominent roles in the red zone.

I’ll start off with Gus Edwards, who has 13 rushing touchdowns this season. “Gus Bus” did not find pay dirt in the Divisional Round.

This was only the ninth time all year that Edwards failed to find the end zone.

The Chiefs are more vulnerable on the ground, ranking 28th in Rush EPA, so we could see Edwards get more touches in this one, especially in the red zone.

I’ll finish it off with David Montgomery, who put up 13 touchdowns in only 14 games this season.

Monty failed to score a touchdown against the Bucs, which was only the fourth time that happened this year.

In fact, Detroit randomly decided to give a goal-line carry to Craig Reynolds in that game, so there’s a good chance that Montgomery would have scored there.

When the Lions gets inside the 20-yard line, they love to run the ball. Look for Montgomery to score a touchdown in this one.

DFS VALUE PLAYS

The Game Day’s team of fantasy and betting analysts will give you their favorite DFS picks. Scott Engel identifies the Conference Championship difference-makers on DraftKings. 

RB David Montgomery ($5,600)

Many DFS players will naturally prefer Jahmyr Gibbs of the two Detroit running backs, but Montgomery is a fine alternative selection and a good salary saver in his price range. He rushed for TDs in the previous four games prior to last week, and he has averaged 14.9 Fantasy Points Per Game on DraftKings overall. 

Aaron Jones rushed for six yards per carry against San Francisco last week and showed that the 49ers are not invincible against the run on defense. The Lions may elect to test that theory often in an effort to ease pressure on their QB and control the clock as much as possible. 

Isaiah Likely ($4,300)

Mark Andrews is expected to return this week, which conceivably dampens the outlook for Likely. Andrews, however, has not played since mid-November and might not be a significant factor in the Baltimore passing game in his first game back. 

While Andrews has been out, Likely has emerged as a frequent TD threat. He has a receiving TD in five of his past six games overall, including the last four at home. 

GET READY TO SCORE, NORTH CAROLINA!

The anticipation is building for the opening of the virtual mobile sports betting gates in North Carolina, and you can start preparing to get in the game now. Sports betting in the Tar Heel State is set to launch on March 11, and we supply all you need for the tipoff. 

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