2021 NFL Week 22 Predictions: Super Bowl Sunday
Bengals +4 over Rams, 24-27
-The Rams are a much better team. Their top-end talent, and their talent distribution across multiple position groups, is much better. The Rams really should brutalize the Bengals’ offensive line. This almost profiles as the same kind of game from last year where a talented, veteran team steamrolls and frustrates an exciting offense with a huge flaw on the offensive line. That game was 31-9…and we are due to a fairly boring 35-10 Super Bowl run. So, you might ask, why am I taking the Bengals and the 4?
This Bengals team reminds me of a couple different teams. The ‘01 Patriots, the ‘03 Panthers, the ‘08 Cardinals. Interestingly, all three had somewhat randomly inspired high-level QB play, breakouts at receiver, and were not projected to win the big game. And out of that group, only the ‘01 Patriots did. But in all those cases, they hung within a half TD in the game. Burrow is entering a territory that he can solidify this year where you just don’t want to bet against him even if it doesn’t make sense to bet on him. I can see the Rams winning big, the Rams winning close, or the Bengals winning close. By grabbing the 4, I get 2 out of those 3 scenarios, and get to root for Burrow and this generally likable Bengals team. This is truly a Super Bowl where it will be fun no matter what happens. I appreciate the Rams going all in to try and win a title, and Kupp can top off functionally the best WR season ever with a win, a big game, or both.
My favorite prop bets (because honestly, I think that's where the best opportunities are for this game).
Rams over 3.5 sacks
Total field goal distance in game over 124.5 yds
Chase + Kupp over 199 yds
Higgins over 68.5 yds
Record Last Week:
Straight Up: 2-0
By Spread: 2-0
Record This Year:
Straight Up: 174-100
By Spread: 146-128
Lifetime Record:
Straight Up: 1887-1037
By Spread: 1544-1383
