Bengals vs. Chiefs: The best game props for the AFC Conference Championship
The AFC Championship Game is set for the early slot on Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff.
The Chiefs are a seven-point favorite in a rematch of a tightly contested Week 17 game won by the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are the three best props to bet for the game.
First scoring play: Chiefs touchdown +125
The Chiefs are significant favorites in this game and as demonstrated in the final two minutes of their Divisional Round matchup with the Buffalo Bills, it is because their offense looks nearly unstoppable right now.
All of Patrick Mahomes’ weapons are healthy, with Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Mecole Hardman all putting up big performances a week ago.
Tyreek Hill throws up the ✌🏻 sign and torched the Bills defense for the TD 🔥#ChiefsKingdom • #NFL
— Boston Sports Syndicate (@BostonSportsSYN) January 24, 2022
pic.twitter.com/a2TkfDwtC8
The Chiefs are favored to score first in this game at -157, but I prefer getting plus odds on them to score first via touchdown.
With such a potent offense and savvy coaching, the Chiefs are one of many teams around the league that increasingly see the value of going for conversions on fourth down. If they find themselves in the red zone and not too far behind the chains, I expect head coach Andy Reid to go for a touchdown rather than settle for a field goal.
With the Bengals offensive line showing plenty of vulnerability in their win against the Tennessee Titans, Reid should be even less concerned about giving the Bengals the ball deep in their own territory.
Look for the Chiefs to come out hot and kickstart their home conference championship game with a touchdown.
Any quarter scoreless +650
This is obviously a longshot but may make for a very fun start and/or end to this game.
The Bengals have played six straight quarters without scoring more than a touchdown themselves, and in surrendering nine sacks to the Titans, they are clearly not firing on all cylinders on offense.
Quarterback Joe Burrow is obviously a unique talent with extreme potential and skill, but this is still his first time in the playoffs. His offensive line is struggling to protect him and will be in one of the tougher environments in the league, playing in Arrowhead.
Joe Burrow was sacked nine times vs. the Titans, tied for the most in a playoff game since the 1970 merger.
— ESPN (@espn) January 23, 2022
Still got the W 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fw2ayusWir
The Chiefs offense is elite and will likely be the biggest threat to turn this prop bet into a loser, but they only scored three points in the entire second half against this Bengals squad in their Week 17 game.
Consider all of this and the added intensity that a conference championship game provides, and the first and fourth quarters are the two likeliest opportunities to cash this ticket.
Chiefs to win by 7-12 points +380
Another longshot that should deliver plenty of excitement all the way through the end of the game, Chiefs to win the game by exactly 7-12 points at +380 looks very appealing.
In the NFL Playoffs, enough data has been accumulated to make the lines very sharp. Teasers tend to show higher success rates due to the accuracy of these lines, and a bet on this prop gives you an outcome that stays within teaser numbers and essentially bets on things to be stressful for everybody wagering on the seven-point spread.
The Chiefs are clearly the better team, according to most advanced metrics and should have a good opportunity to win this contest within this margin.
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