Even though the Los Angeles Rams are favored to beat the Cincinnati Bengals by between 3 ½ and 4 ½ points, when Madden NFL 22 performed a simulation of the matchup for EA Sports Madden NFL, Cincinnati won, 24-21. This is a tradition that goes back to 2004 when Madden made its first prediction about Super Bowl XXXVIII. In the first 17 games, the simulation was correct 11 times, and for Super Bowl XLIX, the score of the simulation matched the outcome exactly.
So can the Cincinnati Bengals pull off the upset? Let’s look closer as you consider your online NFL betting on the big game.
NFL News: What are the Odds on Cincinnati Winning the Super Bowl?
Watch out for “Mattress Mack”
Houston furniture mogul Jim McIngvale, also known as “Mattress Mack,” has picked up a bit of a national following due to his mammoth sports bets. He uses them to hedge the promotions he makes at his furniture store, and he set the record for largest mobile sports wager in the United State by putting $4.5 million on the Bengals to win the game. He actually had to travel to Louisiana to make the bet legally, and he drove just across the border before accessing the Caesars Sportsbook app and make the wager.
However, Mattress Mack’s wager is really designed to pay him back if he has to make good on a promotion at his store. He offers to refund any reclining furniture or mattress purchase for customers if Cincinnati wins the Super Bowl, and this windfall would cover his costs in that eventuality. McIngvale would win $7.7 million if the Bengals win – but if the Rams win, he has kissed all that money good-bye. He considers it worthwhile to build his brand and get customers in the door. But should you take this advice and wager on the Bengals as well?
The Bengals get turnovers
If you watched the fourth quarter and overtime of the Buffalo-Kansas City divisional playoff, you might have come to the conclusion that no one can stop the Chiefs’ offense was defenses get a little tired. The two teams scored 25 points in the last two minutes of the game, and the Chiefs were able to zip right down and get an easy touchdown in overtime.
The Bengals, on the other hand, showed that defenses can stop the Chiefs late in games. In fact, they also stopped the Chiefs late in the first half, as Kansas City had a first-and-goal inside the Cincinnati 5, but then they got a little too cute, and when they tried for a touchdown pass instead of an easy field goal to go up 24-10, Tyreek Hill got tackled short of the end zone. After the halftime intermission, Cincinnati picked off Patrick Mahomes twice, one coming on the first possession of overtime, as the Bengals also showed that it was possible to stop the Chiefs in overtime. That ability to swipe turnovers helped the Bengals get by Tennessee (as Ryan Tannehill threw three picks) and also by the Chiefs. Matthew Stafford has thrown nine interceptions in his last seven games, and Jaquiski Tartt dropped a sure tenth in the NFC Championship, a pick that would likely have sealed the game for the 49ers. If the Bengals continue to play opportunistic ball, they can also win.
Don’t sleep on Evan McPherson
McPherson came to the Bengals in the fifth round out of Florida. He has already established an NFL record with a perfect 12-of-12 record on field goals in this postseason. Three have come from 50 or more yards, including that 52-yard kick to win it in the waning seconds of regulation in Tennessee – a kick that, according to Joe Burrow, McPherson called on the sideline. His counterpart, Matthew Gay, has mised more field goals in the playoffs (two) than he did in the whole regular season – so is the pressure mounting?
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