Super Bowl LVI is now just days away, and betting on the event is really starting to heat up. The Los Angeles Rams are still the betting favorites as they are set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium.
This will be the third straight game in which Cincinnati will be playing the underdog role. The Bengals won the AFC North this season after winning ten games, and they stunned the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game to reach the Super Bowl.
The Los Angeles Rams won the NFC West this season after going 12-5, and they have been one of the betting favorites since the season began. Los Angeles had some close calls in the playoffs, but picked up a 20-17 win in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The betting line has shifted slightly, and the Los Angeles Rams are now four-point betting favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Burrow Thrives Under Pressure
Joe Burrow has been putting up some massive numbers since coming into the NFL, and he always seems to get better in the biggest games. Burrow threw for over 4,600 yards during the regular season, and he will be looking to put on a show in the Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been terrific during his rookie season as well, racking up 1,455 receiving yards and catching 13 touchdown passes.
The Rams are going to do everything they can to slow down this connection, but that’s easier said than done.
The Bengals will also have to play well on the defensive side of the football in this game, and that unit has some momentum. Cincinnati completely shut down the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half of the AFC Championship Game, but it’s going to take a complete effort in this one.
Cincinnati was not supposed to be in the Super Bowl, and that will allow them to play loose and free on Sunday.
Rams Have to Get Stops
The Los Angeles Rams have a loaded offense as well, but they want to win this game on the defensive side of the football. Los Angeles has spent a ton of money putting together that defense, and it has to find a way to get some pressure on Burrow on Sunday.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford was brought to Los Angeles after a rough career in Detroit, but the veteran has thrived with his new team. Stafford threw for over 4,800 yards during the regular season, and he has found a favorite weapon in Cooper Kupp.
Kupp is the best wide receiver in the NFL, and he had 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. The Rams struggle to run the football at times, which will put plenty of pressure on the quarterback-wide receiver connection.
Can’t Pass Up the Points
There is so much to like about each team in the Super Bowl, but each team still has some flaws. This game could easily come down to which quarterback plays the best, and Stafford does have more NFL experience.
Playing at home should give the Rams a slight advantage, and that defense also can completely take over a game. The Bengals have been thriving in the underdog role all season long, and they won’t be afraid of the challenge in this matchup.
This should be a terrific battle on Sunday, and don’t expect to see a ton of separation either way.
Because of this, the best option is to take the four points and bet on the Cincinnati Bengals to cover in Super Bowl LVI, and not worry about picking a team to win.