Pro Picks is a weekly column the place AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming video games. For all earlier Pro Picks, head right here.
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The underdog function has labored out for the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes. The San Francisco 49ers have odds of their favor.
Two of the 4 groups dealing with off Sunday are fairly conversant in these stakes.
The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are within the AFC championship sport for the sixth straight season, however happening the highway for the primary time in that span.
They’ll tackle the No. 1 seed Ravens, who’re right here for the primary time in 11 years. The metropolis of Baltimore is internet hosting an AFC title sport for the primary time because the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders in 1971.
The Ravens are 3 1/2-level favorites, based on FanDuel Sportsbook.
However, the Chiefs are 8-3 as an underdog in Mahomes’ profession.
The No. 1 seed 49ers are making their third consecutive look within the NFC championship sport and fourth in 5 years. They host the Detroit Lions, who haven’t reached this level in 32 years and have by no means performed in a Super Bowl. The 49ers are 7-level favorites.
The Ravens and 49ers have historical past on their facet. No. 1 seeds are 34-14 in convention championship video games, together with 2-0 final season when the Chiefs went on to beat the Eagles within the Super Bowl.
Home groups are 35-18 within the NFC title sport, 36-17 within the AFC.
If the 49ers and Chiefs advance, it’ll arrange a Super Bowl rematch. Kansas City received that one 4 years in the past.
Line: Ravens minus 3 1/2
Mahomes led the Chiefs to a comeback win over Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills within the divisional spherical in his first profession playoff sport on the highway except for Super Bowls.
The two-time NFL and Super Bowl MVP has embraced the problem and now faces the league’s stingiest protection. The Ravens gave up an NFL-low 16.5 factors per sport and the sixth-fewest yards at 301.4 per sport. They have standouts at each degree of protection, together with defensive sort out Justin Madubuike, linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen and security Kyle Hamilton.
All-Pro QB Lamar Jackson additionally has a tricky job going in opposition to a Chiefs protection that gave up 17.3 factors per sport within the common season and held the excessive-octane Dolphins to solely seven factors within the wild-card spherical. Led by All-Pro edge Chris Jones and All-Pro slot cornerback Trent McDuffie, Kansas City was No. 2 in yards, holding opponents to 289.8 per sport. But the Chiefs have been 18th in opposition to the run and the Ravens have the league’s prime dashing offense led by Jackson, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.
Jackson is 1-3 in opposition to Mahomes. But he has led the Ravens to 11 wins over profitable groups with 9 of these by at the very least 14 factors, together with final week’s 34-10 victory over Houston. The previous 5 dwelling groups in a convention championship coming off a victory of at the very least 20 factors all received.
But the Chiefs are 9-1-1 in opposition to the unfold as an underdog with Mahomes, together with eight outright wins.
Something has to offer.
Maybe Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce would be the good luck charms for the Chiefs. Travis Kelce caught two landing passes final week along with his pop star girlfriend and All-Pro brother watching in a collection.
Pro Picks likes an upset.
CHIEFS, 23-22
Line: 49ers minus 7
Jared Goff and the Lions are one win away from the franchise’s first journey to the Super Bowl. If the 49ers play the way in which they did final week in opposition to Green Bay, Dan Campbell’s workforce shall be going to Las Vegas.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers weren’t sharp on a wet night time in opposition to the Packers, however their QB delivered within the clutch to guide a comeback win and convey them again to being a win away from the Super Bowl. Purdy ought to get his likelihood to throw in opposition to the Lions, who had the NFL’s second-greatest run protection however have been twenty seventh in opposition to the cross. He’ll want Deebo Samuel, who’s unsure to play due to a shoulder damage.
All-Pro operating again Christian McCaffrey had a giant sport final week and can also be harmful as a cross-catcher so the Lions can’t merely concentrate on stopping the run.
Goff led the league’s No. 2 passing offense, throwing to All-Pro vast receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and standout rookie tight finish Sam LaPorta. He’s bought David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs within the backfield, too.
But the Lions averaged 5 fewer factors per sport on the highway and the sphere in San Francisco is a slower observe. Plus, they’re dealing with one of many league’s greatest defenses led by All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and star rusher Nick Bosa.
Pro Picks expects the 49ers to convey their greatest after getting routed in Philadelphia in final yr’s NFC title sport when Purdy suffered a big elbow damage.
49ERS, 30-20
Last week: Straight up: 3-1. Against unfold: 2-2.
Playoffs: Straight up: 5-5. Against unfold: 4-6.
Regular season: Straight up: 168-104. Against unfold: 144-118-10.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
