The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs return to the AFC Conference Championship and will travel to Charm City to face the Baltimore Ravens.
In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers will look to avenge their conference championship loss last season to the Philadelphia Eagles by sticking it to the country’s new favorite team, the Detroit Lions.
Who do you like this week to advance to Super Bowl 58?
NFL Conference Championship Odds & Lines
NFL odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook unless otherwise noted and are current as of Monday, Jan. 22, at 9:20 a.m. ET.
NFL Conference Championship Games
Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, Jan. 28, 3 p.m.)
Chiefs +3 (+100) @ Ravens -3 (-120)
By the eyeball test, the only team that exceeded expectations were the Ravens. Lamar Jackson had his team rolling in the second half against the Houston Texans.
After entering halftime tied 10-10, Baltimore reeled off 24 unanswered points. Jackson finished with 152 passing yards and two TD passes along with 100 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Kansas City gritted out its divisional round win against Buffalo. Patrick Mahomes played efficient football, converting 17-of-23 passes for 215 yards and two scores.
The Chiefs are 4-0 ATS in their last four games and the Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last five.
I was impressed how the Ravens defense stifled C.J. Stroud and didn’t let the Texans get any forward momentum in their drives. Houston had four three-and-out drives (one being four-and-out).
Meanwhile, the Ravens dominated the time of possession, 37:35 to 22:25.
I don’t anticipate this line moves at all this week. If anything, perhaps it reduces to -2.5 Ravens. For a spread this low, I avoid getting cute and treat it as a pick’em.
In that case, give me Baltimore to cover the spread. The Ravens’ defense is slightly better, and I anticipate Baltimore will force Mahomes to make a mistake or two in the second half.
Detroit Lions @ San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.)
Lions +6.5 (-102) @ 49ers -6.5 (-118)
With an early injury exit by Deebo Samuel, who is 50/50 to play this weekend, the 49ers offense was uneven practically all game. Brock Purdy completed just 23 of his 39 pass attempts in San Francisco’s come-from-behind win against Green Bay.
The 49ers didn’t play their best and gnashed their teeth to win this one. It has to be a wake-up call that everybody needs to step up, especially against the darling Detroit Lions.
Nobody should want a piece of the Lions right now. Jahmyr Gibbs is a big-play threat every time he touches the ball.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is a first-down machine, and Sam LaPorta is lighting up the middle of the field. Jameson Williams can stretch defenses, and you can’t forget about Josh Reynolds.
Detroit has won five of its last six ATS and San Francisco is 1-3 ATS in its last four.
The 49ers may have the better offense on paper, but they’re certainly not playing like it as of late. At the end of the day, I’m going to believe the 49ers look hard in the mirror, snap out of it, get back on track, and play up to their potential.
