NFL Betting Parlays – Conference Championship Games

With Championship Sunday upon us there are just two games to build a NFL parlay this week. That can be both good and bad. Good in the sense that we can focus our attention and bad in that the games, much like the playoffs and regular season, can be unpredictable. The top seeds in each conference advanced with the AFC’s Baltimore Ravens and NFC’s San Francisco 49ers hosting their respective conference title games as NFL betting line favorites at BetRivers sportsbook.

If playoff experience means anything the Kansas City Chiefs should definitely be considered in a NFL parlay. KC went on the road for a playoff game for the first time in the career of Patrick Mahomes beating the Bills, 27-24, in the Divisional Round to reach the conference championship in a sixth straight season. Beating No. 1 seed Baltimore will be a huge task, though, since MVP Lamar Jackson is looking to put past postseason failures behind him. Jackson accounted for four TDs in last week’s 34-10 win over Houston and is undefeated in his last seven starts helping the Ravens go 6-1 as a NFL pick against the spread in those games. Baltimore is a 3.5-point favorite with the over/under at 44.5.

The Detroit Lions are the only team among the remaining four that has never won or even appeared in a Super Bowl. In order to make history they will have to get by the Niners as a 7-point dog on the NFL football line. SF is back in the NFC title game looking to make amends for last season’s blowout loss to Philadelphia. Brock Purdy sustained an elbow injury in that game rendering him useless and backup Josh Johnson was concussed leaving the team without a serviceable QB in the 31-7 setback.

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I learned last week that it’s not a good idea to bet against Mahomes no matter where the game is being played. I backed the Bills in their matchup since they finally got the Chiefs at home after getting ousted from the playoffs in KC in two of the previous three seasons. With Mahomes tossing a pair of TD passes the Chiefs earned a narrow victory. And I had to sit through the final game of the weekend needing a Bills cover to cash a three-team parlay. Oh well. Two earlier NFL wagers on NFC games hit when the Niners and Packers played below the closing total and Detroit covered the 6.5-point line in a 31-23 win over Tampa Bay.

What about this week? Well, the Lions aren’t getting a lot of respect even though they matched a club record with 12 regular season victories while boasting a top 5 offense. They also have something the Niners don’t have: a QB who’s been to a Super Bowl. Jared Goff led the Rams to the game’s biggest stage a few years ago and has something to prove after the team jettisoned him because he couldn’t win the big one. And it’s not like the Lions are sneaking up on anyone. They’ve been really good since the middle of last season winning 22 of their last 29 games.

It might have been rust or possibly playoff jitters, but the Niners had a harder than expected time against Green Bay. Brock Purdy wasn’t sharp until leading a late TD drive for the comeback 24-21 win. The Niners failed to cover the 10.5-point NFL betting line and have just one payout in their last four games. There’s a chance Deebo Samuel sits taking a playmaker away from Purdy and giving the Lions enough wiggle room to stay within the spread.

The Chiefs aren’t ready to give up their AFC crown but they may not have a choice. The Ravens are just solid up and down with Jackson leading a potent offense with his arm and his legs. LJ tossed a pair of TD passes and rushed for 100 yards and two more scores helping his club pull away from the Texans last week. And Baltimore’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown in the 34-10 triumph. Houston’s only TD came on a second quarter punt return that tied the game at 10-10. So you know what the Ravens did after the break.

The teams have played some high scoring games in the past but they’ve never both been this strong defensively. The Chiefs were second in yards allowed during the season while the Ravens had the No. 1 scoring defense. They also are the top two teams in those categories this postseason. Rain is expected which will likely impact the effectiveness of the offenses leading to fewer points. And the Ravens at home minus the points appear to be a strong NFL wager. Maybe I didn’t learn my lesson.

Lions +7

Ravens -3.5

Chiefs / Ravens UNDER 44.5

Check out the latest NFL odds at BetRivers.