NFL Picks and Predictions: Picking Sunday’s Championship Playoff games against the spread and the totals

If the Super Bowl is to be a watchable event for Pittsburgh Steelers fans in 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs must beat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Regardless of Tom Brady’s absurd suggestion that no one believes New England can win in Kansas City, the reality is that most NFL fans just don't want them to.

As per the analyzed geotagged Twitter data from across the country nation, people in each of the 50 states published by betting site sportsbetting.ag.

First up on the day’s schedule are two teams that few Steelers fans will hold any deep seated resentment towards, with the New Orleans Saints set to host the Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans opened as 3-point favorites at the start of the week and that is the same line showing as kick-off approaches. The totals position has also seen very little change from an opening line of 57-points, with 56.5-points now the most common offering.

SC Prediction - It is hard to look past the Saints playing at home in the playoff given they have never lost in front of their own fans during the postseason since Sean Payton took control of the team. With weapons all over the field on offense and an improving defense, it is hard to see a different outcome to the Week 9 meeting between these two teams won by New Orleans by a score of 45-35. Home teams have won the last 10 straight championship games and the Saints should have pushed that number to 11 when the final whistle sounds.

Pick: Saints straight up a with a spread of -3-points. Take under 56.5 points.

JH Prediction - The one thing which stands out to me in this game is how these two teams just don’t seem to be playing their best football right now. With that being my line of thinking, I can see this game being lower scoring than most believe, and I think the Saints continue to roll at home en route to the Super Bowl.

Pick: I like the Saints to win and cover, but I’ll take the UNDER in this contest.

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Much like the NFC Championship Game, there has been very little movement to the open spread or total for the game between the Patriots and the Chiefs, with Kansas City holding firm as 3-point favorites for the contest and the over/under currently set at 56.5-points.

SC Prediction - Even while acknowledging an epic bias against New England, I still struggle to see the Chiefs failing to capitalize on an opportunity to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970. In front of a deafening home crowd, the Patriots will find it hard to communicate and that should impact the way their offense performs. New England has not been impressive on the road in 2018 and the Chiefs finally have a good enough quarterback under center to make use of several talented playmakers on offense.

Pick: Chiefs straight up a with a spread of -3-points. Take over 56.5 points.

JH Prediction - This is a head and heart pick for me. While I can see the Patriots’ experience helping them, I don’t think this team can be as prepared for the Chiefs’ offense like they were against the Chargers last week with a bye week to prepare. Patrick Mahomes and company should be able to move the ball against the New England defense, but can they stop Tom Brady and company enough to win?

Pick: I like the Chiefs here straight up, and to cover. Just like the NFC game, I’ll take the UNDER thinking the weather will impact the effectiveness of both offenses.

Please add your selections in the comments section below and we will tally an overall winner at the end of postseason.