Los Angeles Rams vs Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl Betting Preview
After an entire NFL season, we are down to just one game remaining. On Sunday, Super Bowl LVI will commence with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This year’s Super Bowl is being held at SoFi Stadium, the home of the Rams. This is the second straight season that one of the Super Bowl contenders will play on their home field after the Buccaneers did the same last year. The kickoff for this contest is scheduled for 6:30 pm ET.
Two weeks ago, in the NFC Championship, the Rams were able to take down their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, 20-17. In the win, Matthew Stafford threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns, both of which were caught by Cooper Kupp.
For the Bengals, they came back from a 21-10 halftime deficit to take down the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in overtime.
Joe Burrow threw for 250 yards and two scores in the win. Both Ja’Marr Chase and Samaje Perine had the receiving touchdowns.
The Rams are the favorites in this one, especially playing at their home field. They are -198 to win while the Bengals’ moneyline sits at +166. The spread features Cincinnati +4 (-108), and the over/under for total points is 48.5.
By The Numbers
This season, both of these teams have ranked inside the top ten in offense. The Rams rank sixth, averaging 27.2 points per game. The Bengals rank eighth, averaging 26.6 points.
Defensively, it is again the Rams with the slight edge. They rank 10th in scoring defense as they are allowing opponents just 21.4 points per game. The Bengals rank 13th, allowing 21.8 points per game.
Defense Could Be Difference Maker Sunday For Rams
It is no secret that the Bengals’ offensive line has struggled this season. Entering play, they are averaging 3.4 sacks allowed per game, 30th in the NFL. With a front seven that includes Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Leonard Floyd, the Rams’ defense could be their key to winning the game.
Those three combined for 27 sacks this season, and if the Bengals can’t find a way to scheme against them, Burrow may be in for another game like the one against Tennessee, when he was sacked nine times.
Offensively, the Rams are led by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. During the regular season, Stafford threw for 4,886 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. When they acquired him in the offseason, this scenario, in the Super Bowl, is exactly what they imagined.
Stafford’s favorite weapon is wide receiver Cooper Kupp. During the regular season, he had 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Can Bengals Finish Cinderella Story?
After knocking off the Raiders, the top-seeded Titans, and the Chiefs, the Bengals have had an amazing journey to get to the Super Bowl. On Sunday, they hope to finish off the Cinderella story by taking down the Rams and being crowned champions.
Second-year quarterback Joe Burrow will attempt to lead the offense against a vaunted Rams’ defense. During the regular season, Burrow threw for 4,611 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Like Stafford, he has a favorite target in rookie Ja’Marr Chase. The former LSU teammates have been a dynamic pairing as Chase had 81 receptions for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season.
Tee Higgins (1,091 yards, six touchdowns) and Tyler Boyd (828 yards, five touchdowns) were also electric for the Bengals.
On the ground, the team is led by Joe Mixon. In 16 games, he rushed 292 times for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 314 yards receiving with another three scores.
Expect Rams To Win And Cover
Unfortunately for Cincinnati, the Cinderella story may end here. It really boils down to the matchup of the lines. For the Bengals, their struggling offensive line may come back to hurt them in the presence of the Rams’ front seven.
While the Bengals were able to withstand a rough game by the offensive line in their win over Tennessee earlier in the playoffs, the Rams have the firepower to make it hurt offensively too.
At the end of the day, take the Rams to not only win this one but to cover the modest four-point spread as well.
