NFL Conference Championship Weekend: Over and Under Bets

This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we're making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we're offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.

Over and Under Best Bets

Take the over: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs Total: 56.5 The Chiefs remain vulnerable against the run. The Colts averaged 6.2 yards per rush against them but weren't able to establish the run consistently due to the score. Meanwhile, the Patriots have really discovered a strong running game thanks to the emergence of Sony Michel. Look for them to keep it on the ground and set things up for the passing game to take advantage of a secondary that is also beatable. You know Tom Brady will get some shots in, and there's little doubt Patrick Mahomes will do the same. New England's run defense is also vulnerable -- only the Rams surrendered more yards per carry than the Pats and Chiefs this season -- and Damien Williams and Spencer Ware should have plenty of success setting up the passing game. Kansas City could also get a shot in the arm from the return of injured guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. These teams combined for 83 points in their first meeting, and this should be another track meet. After initial weather concerns, the latest forecast indicates this game won't be played in sub-zero temperatures after all, and I think both teams will have just enough in them on offense to push this one into the 60s. Predicted score: Chiefs 34, Patriots 28 Take the under: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints Total: 56 Dating back to Week 13, the Saints have averaged fewer than 20 points per game. And while they scored 45 points the last time they faced Los Angeles, Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is too smart to let that happen again. Look for Aqib Talib -- who didn't play in that first meeting -- to do a better job against productive star Saints receiver Michael Thomas, and don't be surprised if underrated Rams linebacker Cory Littleton limits Alvin Kamara's damage. That could make life real tough against a defensive front featuring defensive player of the year shoo-in Aaron Donald as well as Ndamukong Suh, who looks inspired thus far in January. And while the Rams also scored 35 points in that Week 9 meeting, that offense has also been less stable and consistent without Cooper Kupp down the stretch. The Saints defense is certainly beatable, but keep in mind that New Orleans completely shut down the Eagles for three and a half quarters on Sunday and has surrendered 17 or fewer points in seven of its last nine games. Not even sure this one will hit 50. Predicted score: Rams 24, Saints 23 Good luck, we're all counting on you. Previous results Last week: 2-0 2018 season: 23-14-1
Brad Gagnon has been passionate about both sports and mass media since he was in diapers -- a passion that won't die until he's in them again. He was a lead contributor to an earlier incarnation of NationalFootballPost.com and was happy to return when new management revived the brand in 2020. Based in Toronto, he's covered the NFL since 2008 and has been a national NFL writer at Bleacher Report since 2012. He despises all 32 NFL teams equally but remains a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors. He can be reached at Brad@NationalFootballPost.com

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