Welcome to our NFL Conference Championship Round Picks Straight Up! While it hurt to see my Chicago Bears go down in overtime, that did mean we went four for four on game picks last week, and my Super Bowl pick of the Rams over the Broncos is still alive. Let's see if we can keep the hot streak alive today with the AFC and NFC Championship games!

So without further ado, it is time to bring you our expert NFL Conference Championship Round Picks Straight Up. Below, you will find my picks and the odds and spreads for both games this week.

 

 

 

NFL Conference Championship Round Picks Straight Up & Odds For Both Games

With the NFL playoffs here, we have great matchups on paper for the Conference Championship Round! In the following section, you will find my predictions, with the teams I anticipate coming away with a victory highlighted in bold. Odds are courtesy of BetMGM:

 

 

 

NFL Conference Championship Round Picks Straight Up: New England Patriots ML (-245 at DraftKings Sportsbook)

I am heartbroken for Bo Nix. After a season of proving doubters wrong, securing the number one seed in the AFC, and making it all the way to the AFC Championship, he gets hurt at the end of the Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills. While the Broncos were initially the team I thought was going to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, it is hard to pick them while they are starting a backup quarterback. 

This New England Patriots team boasts an MVP candidate, a Coach of the Year candidate, and a defense that has only given up 19 points across two playoff games while forcing six turnovers. The playoff run that the Patriots' defense is on is elite, allowing the fifth least amount of yards per play since 1980. Plus, having Drake Maye on the other side of the ball is a blessing as well.  

I think there are just too many obstacles stacked up against the Denver Broncos at this point. I think that the talented Denver defense, along with the homefield advantage of Mile High, will be enough to keep the game close, but starting a backup quarterback for the first time this season paired with an unreliable run game and good-not-great weapons on the outside forces me to go against my pick at the beginning of the playoffs and choose the Patriots to win this one. 

 

 

 

NFL Conference Championship Round Picks Straight Up: Los Angeles Rams ML (+125 at BetMGM Sportsbook)

This one might surprise some people, as the Rams were one score away from losing to both the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, but I really like the Rams in this spot. Honestly, I thought the Seahawks were going to be unstoppable in the playoffs UNLESS they met with the Rams. In the regular season, the Seahawks and Rams split 1-1. That being said, that one win came with a lot of luck and variables I do not see happening again. A Rasheed Shaheed return touchdown. An insane two-point conversion that took several minutes to rule. And a comeback that brought the game into overtime. Overall, I do not see all that happening again.

Whenever I discuss this matchup, I point out Sam Darnold over the past two years. Darnold's comeback story has been legendary, but he has had some notible weakpoints. Last year with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold led the Vikings to only four losses, including the playoffs, but they came against the same two teams: the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. If not for the comedy of errors that was their Week 16 meeting, Darnold would be 0-4 against the Rams in the last two seasons with a TD-INT ratio of 5-7. Darnold struggles against this team, and going up against a more battle-tested and experienced Rams team, I think he will struggle yet again.

 

 

 

How To Bet On NFL Conference Championship Round With The BetMGM Bonus Code & Unlock $150 In Bonus Bets

If you want to make the most of our free picks, try signing up to BetMGM with our exclusive bonus code ALARM!

This welcome bonus is straightforward and inclusive, giving you the chance to place wagers on any matchup you like during the NFL Divisional Round. After registering through this offer, simply deposit at least $10 and place a qualifying bet of $10 or more.

As long as you bet at least $10 with your first bet, you're ready to just kick back and root for it to win. If it does, you’ll get $150 in bonus bets, even if you're betting a big favorite like the Patriots over the Broncos! In other words, you’re getting 15/1 odds on anything when you become a new member with our BetMGM bonus code ALARM!

 

 

 

NFL Conference Championship Round Spreads For Both Games Provided By BetMGM Sportsbook

We just unveiled our NFL Conference Championship Round picks, and below are the spread odds for both matchups, provided by BetMGM Sportsbook:

  • Patriots -5 vs. Broncos +5
  • Rams +2.5 vs. Seahawks -2.5

Be sure to come back and check out our NFL Conference Championship Round Picks Against the Spread, or take advantage of our BetMGM bonus code ALARM by signing up now!