Conference Championship Weekend

Good morning,

Let’s dive in…

Developing Stories 📰

Conference Championship weekend is nearly here and things could get interesting with this year’s final four. First up on Sunday is the NFC Championship Game between San Francisco and Philadelphia. The Eagles dominated the Giants 38-7 last Saturday. Meanwhile, the 49ers defense held the Cowboys in check and made enough plays on offense to earn a hard-fought 19-12 victory at home. Besides being the top two teams in the NFC, this also is a matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 defenses in the league in terms of yards allowed per game- while both offenses finished in the top five in the same category during the regular season. The Eagles have been the NFC’s best team from the very start of the season and are one win away from the Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts is one of the best running quarterbacks in the league after accounting for 760 yards on the ground during the regular season. Including the playoffs, the Eagles have won each of Hurts’ past seven starts. Brock Purdy has passed every test that has come his way since taking over as the 49ers' starter at quarterback. He will have a challenge this week against the Philadelphia Eagles' defense.

The Bengals are looking for back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and they know what it takes to beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium, having done so in last year's AFC Championship Game. Cincinnati has won three in a row over Kansas City, including a 27-24 victory at home in Week 13. The Bengals are feeling good after last Sunday's 27-10 road win over Buffalo, while the Chiefs took care of the Jaguars 27-20. Everyone has questions about the health of Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a high ankle sprain in that game. With Mahomes expected to be hindered in some capacity, it puts more pressure on the running game to provide some of the offense. Isiah Pacheco has done a good job since taking on the lead role, including 95 yards on 12 carries last weekend. The focus for Kansas City's defense will be to try and take advantage of an injured Bengals offensive line while containing Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Kansas City is making its fifth straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game, aiming for a third trip to the Super Bowl in that span.

Headlines 🚨

On this day in Sports History: 1894, The 1st ever college basketball game is played, The University of Chicago beats Chicago YMCA 19-11

Former Colts HC Frank Reich has been named the new head coach of the Carolina Panthers

The Jets are hiring former Broncos HC Nathanial Hackett as their offensive coordinator

The packers will explore the idea of trading Aaron Rodgers exclusively to the AFC

Uber Eats delivery guy goes on court during middle of Loyola Chicago at Duquesne game- tried to give food to referee

Chicago White Sox pitcher, Mike Clevinger, is under investigation by MLB following allegations of domestic violence involving the mother of his 10-month-old daughter and child abuse

Alabama OC/QB coach Bill O’Brien has returned to New England to be their new offensive coordinator. Bill was an assistant coach from 2007-2011 for New England. Also, Bill worked briefly with Mac Jones at Alabama - now they will reunite.

Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo voted All-Star Game captains

Djokovic tops Tommy Paul; Faces Stefanos Tsitsipas in Australian Open Final

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

🏈 49ers at Eagles

• San Francisco is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

• San Francisco is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games

• Philadelphia is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games

• Philadelphia is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games when playing San Francisco

🏈 Bengals at Chiefs

• Cincinnati is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road

• Cincinnati is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road

• Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

• Kansas City is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

🏀 Bucks at Pacers

• Milwaukee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Indiana

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Milwaukee's last 7 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Indiana's last 5 games at home

• Indiana is 7-1-1 ATS in its last 9 games at home

🏀 Grizzlies at Timberwolves

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Memphis's last 7 games when playing Minnesota

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games

• Minnesota is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home

🏀 Magic at Heat

• Orlando is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Orlando's last 5 games

• Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Orlando

🏀 Cavaliers at Thunder

• Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Oklahoma City

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games

• Oklahoma City is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oklahoma City's last 5 games

🏀 Raptors at Warriors

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 12 of Toronto's last 16 games when playing on the road against Golden State

• Golden State is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home

• Golden State is 15-5 SU in its last 20 games when playing at home against Toronto

🎓🏀 Air Force at UNM

• Air Force is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Air Force's last 22 games on the road

🏒 Sharks at Hurricanes

• San Jose is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Carolina

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Jose's last 5 games when playing Carolina

• Carolina is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against San Jose

🏒 Kings at Panthers

• Los Angeles is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Florida

• Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Florida's last 5 games

• Florida is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games

🏒 Red Wings at Islanders

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Islanders

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 8 games on the road

• NY Islanders is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit

🏒 Golden Knights at Rangers

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Vegas's last 5 games on the road

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Vegas's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Rangers's last 6 games

• NY Rangers is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 games

🏒 Senators at Maple Leafs

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games when playing Toronto

• Ottawa is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games when playing Toronto

• Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

• Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Ottawa

🏒 Flames at Kraken

• Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Seattle

• Calgary is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road

• Seattle is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games

• Seattle is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games

🏒 Blue Jackets at Canucks

• Columbus is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road

• Columbus is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Vancouver

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Vancouver's last 5 games when playing Columbus

• The total has gone OVER in 7 of Vancouver's last 10 games

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

🏈 NFL

75% of bets and 80% of money is on PHI -2.5

61% of bets and 62% of money is on UNDER 46.5 SF at PHI

53% of bets and 66% of money is on PHI ML -145

74% of bets and 76% of money is on CIN +1.5

29% of bets and 36% of money is on UNDER 48 CIN at KC

31% of bets and 33% of money is on KC ML -115

🏀 NBA

44% of bets and 61% of money is on MIA -7.5

36% of bets and 47% of money is on UNDER 219.5 ORL at MIA

28% of bets and 67% of money is on UNDER 223.5 CLE at OKC

🏒 NHL

34% of bets and 75% of money is on NYI -1.5

58% of bets and 76% of money is on NYI ML -175

32% of bets and 50% of money is on NYR -1.5

61% of bets and 79% of money is on TOR -1.5

52% of bets and 84% of money is on FLA ML -150

38% of bets and 63% of money is on VAN -1.5

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

CIN (TE) Hayden Hurst | Probable - Calf

CIN (G) Alex Cappa | Questionable - Ankle

CIN (OT) Jonah Williams | Questionable - Kneecap

CIN (LB) Joe Bachie | Questionable 

KC (WR) Mecole Hardman | Questionable - Pelvis

KC (RB) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | IR - Andy Reid said there is a chance Clyde can come off IR before Sunday’s game

KC (TE) Jody Fortson | IR - Andre Reid said there is a chance Jody can come off IR before Sunday’s game

PHI (CB) Avonte Maddux | Probable - Toe

PHI (OT) Lane Johnson | Questionable 

SF (RB) Christian McCaffery | Probable - Calf

SF (WR) Deebo Samuel | Probable - Ankle

SF (RB) Elijah Mitchell | Questionable - Groin

SF (CB) Ambry Thomas | Questionable 

SF (DE) Charles Omenihu | Questionable - Omenihu was arrested Monday on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence

Weekend Picks 🔒

Isaiah Pacheco OVER 47.5 rushing yards | I was expecting the line to be much higher. Andy Reid is no stranger to showcasing a rookie RB in playoffs. Pacheco is averaging 13.8 carries over the L10 weeks and hit this number last week versus Jacksonville. Against the Bengals in Week 13, Pacheco had 14 carries for 66 yards. I expect Reid to want to limit the amount of 5-7 step drops for Mahomes and lean on Pacheco on early downs.

PHI/SF UNDER 46.5 | Philadelphia ranks No. 2 in fewest pass yards allowed, fourth in most INTs and had 15 more sacks than any other team. San Francisco has a top defense as well. The team is allowing 14.9 ppg during its current 12-game win streak. The Under has hit in the last four meetings.