by Joe Wiz
Three years ago, the Los Angeles Rams made it to the Super Bowl but were denied the ultimate prize by Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Since that loss, the Rams General Manager Les Snead, Head Coach Sean McVay, and owner Stan Kroenke, have been “all-in” trying to build a Championship team.
It’s the second straight year we have seen a team with home-field advantage and it will be hot in Englewood, California as a heat advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service as temperatures could reach 90 degrees at So Fi.
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First, the Rams added Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the Jaguars. Then came the blockbuster deal with the Lions to acquire QB Matthew Stafford and subsequent in-season deals to add the likes of linebacker Von Miller from the Broncos and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from the Browns. It’s hoisting the trophy or bust for the Rams.
Los Angeles comes in arguably playing its best football of the season, with wins in eight of nine after a November to forget when the Rams didn’t win at all. Stafford, in particular, has proven an upgrade from predecessor Jared Goff, tossing 41 TDs across the regular season and another six in the playoffs, and having gained a quick rapport this season with the glue-fingered Cooper Kupp, who proceeded to catch a staggering 145 passes while setting an NFL record for yards from scrimmage (1965) by a wideout. Meanwhile, OBJ is now fully indoctrinated to the McVay offense and had his best game as a Ram (11 catches for 113 yards) in the NFC title win over the nemesis Niners.
For Cincinnati, HC Zac Taylor came into his 3rd season in the hot seat with an expectation from ownership to make the playoffs. After knocking off the Raiders, and back-to-back upset victories over the Titans and Chiefs, it’s safe to say Zac will be hanging around for years to come.
LSU Heisman winner QB Joe Burrow had a quick recovery from a devastating knee injury last season, performing like he was back in Baton Rouge, looking comfortable connecting with old LSU target Ja’Marr Chase. Chase caught 1455 yards worth of passes for 13 TDs during the regular season. Along with fellow wideouts Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd (141 catches and 11 TDs between them), Burrow doesn’t lack for targets, while ex-OU Sooner Joe Mixon (1205 YR) adds a slashing dimension to the infantry.
Offensively, both teams are equally explosive. Defensive coordinator, Raheem Morris, and the Rams come in with the number 1 defense in the NFL but the Bengals Defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo made adjustments at the right time this postseason and is a big reason Cincy is representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.
For residents in New York state, the current line at Betrivers.com has the Rams as a 4-point favorite and the total in this game is at 48.5. Get up to a $250 first deposit match by using promo code 250MATCH and check out over 500 prop bets for Super Bowl 56. New Jersey residents can get down on all the Super Bowl action and take advantage of some great promos at Playsugarhouse.com.
We know the Rams have the Top-Rated Defense but so did the Buffalo Bills before they got shredded by KC, The Bengals are 7-0 ATS the last seven games including Playoff Wins at Tennessee and KC, as a matter of fact they beat Mahomes twice.
The Rams got by Tampa with a Field goal and they overcame a 17-7 deficit in the fourth quarter to win by the same margin over San Fran this coincides with All 4 Divisional Playoff games decided by FGs on the final play and again in the Championship affairs. It could be deja vu all over again when I gave out Tampa Bay as a dog in last year’s Super Bowl and Bengals +4 are a good value bet in what should be a high scoring affair.
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