One of the more exciting NFL betting options out there is the parlay — a chance to put multiple wagers together to increase your payout. If you get all of the legs of your parlay right, you win a greater payout than you would if you have placed all of the bets separately. The reason for this, of course, is that your risk also increases exponentially, because just one wrong outcome means that you don’t make any money, even if most of your picks came out right. The NFL has its conference championships this Sunday, as Tennessee visits Kansas City and Green Bay heads to San Francisco, with berths in Super Bowl LIV on the line. Let’s take a look at a couple of different two-leg parlays that you could use to bring home some extra money this weekend.
2020 NFL Conference Championship Round Parlay Picks
Who's bringing home the Lombardi Trophy? #SBLIV 🏆@cfrelund makes her predictions. #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/3bw3ZeeZER
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2020
Game Schedule
- Tennessee (+7.5) at Kansas City (O/U 52.5) (3:05 pm ET, CBS)
- Green Bay (+7.5) at San Francisco (O/U 45) (6:40 pm ET, FOX)
Parlay #1: Money Matinee
Tennessee covers / The point total goes over
These two teams played on November 10 in Nashville, and the Titans held on with all their might for a 35-32 victory (67 points total). In that game, Patrick Mahomes made his return from a kneecap injury, and there was obvious rust on a lot of his throws. Even so, the Chiefs led 10-0 after the first quarter. Then the Titans started to find holes in the Chiefs’ defense, with a passing touchdown, and they also had a scoop-and-score on a Rashaan Evans fumble return to the house. The teams went into halftime tied at 13-13. The second half basically revolved around trading scoring drives, as the Titans scored three touchdowns, two on Derrick Henry runs (one for 68 yards) and the third on a Tannehill pass. The Chiefs got two touchdowns and two field goals; the Titans went for two on their third touchdown to end up winning by three.
It’s hard to pin that loss on Mahomes’ rust. The Titans pounded the ball with Derrick Henry and, even after a scoreless first quarter, was able to stay with the Chiefs blow for blow. The Titans’ defense in the postseason has been terrific, with four takeaways (including three against Baltimore), but even without that factor, they were able to stay with the Chiefs.
Now that the game shifts to Kansas City, the line jumps to 7.5 points. Given how well Tennessee is playing now and how they played the Chiefs on that day, that line doesn’t make a lot of sense. I don’t see Tennessee’s defense falling off the table like Houston’s did. Instead, I see this game turning into a track meet like the first meeting, coming down to the last drive. So even if they lose, I like the Titans to cover — and the point total to go “over.”
Parlay #2: Big Bucks by the Bay
San Francisco covers / The point total goes under
This game also features a rematch of a regular-season game. On November 24, the Packers and 49ers squared off at Levi’s Stadium, and the hosts rolled to a 37-8 win. The Packers haven’t lost since, rolling to six straight victories including that escape against the Seahawks last week.
In that game, the 49ers got out to a quick 7-0 lead, driving down the field and scoring a touchdown in just 1:58, and the rout was on. Green Bay was down 23-0 at halftime and got a touchdown in the third quarter, with a two-point conversion, to maintain dignity, but then San Francisco immediately responded with a 61-yard strike from Jimmy Garoppolo to all-world tight end George Kittle, and that was that. Green Bay’s pass rush is more effective than it was in that game, but Green Bay finally has to take on a team that isn’t riddled with injuries or incompetence and isn’t part of the NFC North. I don’t think San Francisco scores as much — but I don’t think the Packers score much more than they did, so I see the 49ers cruising to something like a 27-10 win, keeping that total under.
