This year’s Super Bowl pits two unlikely contenders against each other in the shape of the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.
The match is a homecoming for the Rams, set to be played at their SoFi Stadium whereas the Bengals are looking to win their first ever Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The Rams are 20/41 on the money line and a 4.5 favourite on the spread, with the Bengals 7/4 to win the game.
Bengals Do It the Hard Way
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached the Super Bowl the hard way, overcoming the Las Vegas Raiders to snap a 31-year playoff victory drought before they beat the number one seed Tennessee Titans in their own backyard to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
The Chiefs were back-to-back AFC champions coming into the game and heavy favourites, but the underdog Bengals overcame an 18 point deficit to win 27-24 and reach the Super Bowl.
Rams Take Close Encounters to Set Up Homecoming
The Los Angeles Rams were comfortable victors over the Arizona Cardinals before they fought off Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in dramatic fashion, winning 30-27 after the Bucs had rallied from 27-3 down.
In the NFC Championship game the Rams came back themselves to win 20-17 over the San Francisco 49ers and book themselves a place in the Super Bowl at their own stadium.
Burrow vs. Pass Rush a Key Battle
Quarterback Joe Burrow has led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in just his second season in the NFL and if he wins will become the first quarterback ever to win the Heisman Trophy, the National College Championship and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
However, standing in Burrow’s way is a formidable Rams pass rush, spearheaded by Aaron Donald and Von Miller.
Miller leads current NFL players in sacks and is a former Super Bowl MVP, while Donald has made the Pro Bowl in all eight of his seasons in the league and registered 12.5 sacks this year.
If Burrow and the Bengals are to be successful, they must mitigate Los Angeles’ deadly pass rush, which is 4/9 to have the most sacks between the two sides.
Rams’ Weapons May Prove Too Much
While Matthew Stafford probably isn’t a top five quarterback, his offence has been successful this season due to the number of weapons he has at his disposal.
Cooper Kupp has registered a record-breaking season, with 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns, leading the NFL in all three categories.
The wide receiver is 8/15 to register a touch down anytime and 5/1 to have the first of the game.
Aside from Kupp, Stafford can count on Van Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr among a talented group of receivers, with the pair 49/20 and 6/5 respectively for a score in this game.
All in all, the Rams appear to have too many positives going for them and should be able to ruin the Bengals’ fairytale ending on home soil.
All odds correct at time of writing.