The Chiefs and the Ravens and the Lions and the Niners square off for the privilege of playing in Super Bowl LVIII in Vegas on February 11th at 5:30 PM CT on CBS. The four teams are the best in the league, and the quarterbacks and defenses should determine each outcome. Will Patrick Mahomes continue his magical career or will Lamar Jackson and that No.1 ranked Ravens defense matriculate to Vegas. On the NFC side, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers will try to earn their way in, but face a talented and hungry Detroit Lions team. A key factor for the 49ers is Deebo Samuels’ health. He’s got a hurt shoulder and is questionable. I expect him to play since it’s for the chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2 weeks, but his effectiveness could be hampered by his injury.
Here are predictions for today’s contests…..
Record so far
SU: 7-3, ATS, 5-5
AFC Championship Game
Kansas City Chiefs (13-6, 7-2 Away) @ Baltimore Ravens (14-4, 7-3 Home)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD.
2 PM CT
CBS
Jim, Tony, Trace, Evan, Jay
Yella, Shawn Smith
Ravens by 4 1/2
Like I’ve been saying the past couple of years, it’s so hard to go against Mahomes. He’s burned so many experts. He just keeps get’er done. But I like Lamar this year. He has been an extraordinary quarterback and the Ravens defense is superb. Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, who’s back from an injury he suffered three weeks ago, and the Ravens defense is hard to penetrate. The Chiefs defense is underrated and very good as well. But I’ll take Lamar and the Ravens to advance to Allegiant Stadium for Super Bowl 58 on February 11th.
Ravens 24, Chiefs 17
NFC Championship Game
Detroit Lions (14-5, 6-3 Away) @SF 49ers (13-5, 6-3 Home)
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA.
5:30 PM CT
FOX
Kev, Gregory, EA, Tom
Laundry, Clete Blakeman
Niners by 7
Some people would call this a reach, but I’m going to make it. I like Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, tight end Sam Laporta and stellar defensive end Aiden Hutchinson and the Lions to pull off the upset in the Golden Gate state, and put the Lions in Super Bowl 58 playing for their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. This team has magic. They went to Arrowhead the first game of the season and despite Everybody predicting them to lose, they defeated Mahomes and the Chiefs. I like them to do that at Levi’s late this afternoon as well. Give me Coach Dan Campbell, who’s done a remarkable job pulling a franchise from its bootstraps and brutal struggles all the way to the pinnacle of the sport.