As football fans, we’ve been absolutely blessed with two amazing matchups on championship weekend. I’ve already covered what to look for betting-wise in the AFC Championship, so now it’s time to move on to the later game. This year’s NFC Championship has the San Francisco 49ers taking on a young and emerging Detroit Lions squad. All signs point to this one being a barnburner. I strongly suggest taking a quick look at these highlighted wagers before anything changes. All odds and wagers I’ve mentioned can be found at OH Gamblers.
1. Jahmyr Gibbs – Over 22.5 Receiving Yards
After a slow start to the season, Gibbs, the 12th overall pick from this year’s NFL draft has been spectacular. Whether through the ground or the air, he’s proven to be a versatile weapon. He’s begun to outshine David Montgomery, especially in the playoffs which is a great sign for his continued production.
Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson almost exclusively uses Gibbs when a receiving back is needed. His quick twitch ability shines in comparison to Montgomery, who’s more of a power back. In the Lions’ playoff games, Gibbs has had four catches in each game with 43 yards against the Los Angeles Rams and 40 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Regardless of whether the Lions are down big or holding on to a slim lead, Gibbs’ receiving should be featured this week.
2. Detroit Lions & San Francisco 49ers – Over 51.5 Total Points
Just about everything points to this game being a high-octane shootout. Detroit’s defense has been consistently burned the entire season. Although they make a flashy play now and then, they’ve barely been able to stop above-average offensive units. On the other side, the Niners’ defense is much better but they’ll be facing an elite offense that can beat you in nearly every way.
Regardless of how San Francisco’s defense plays, Ben Johnson has the scheme and players to work around it. They could turn into a power-run first team with David Montgomery, then out of nowhere uncork a 50-yard deep ball to one of their many speedy receivers. With all the superstars on San Francisco’s offense, it’s extremely unlike they’ll be able to hold them to under 24 points, which is already near halfway to the points total. The total points could wildly surpass what books are predicting.
3. George Kittle – Over 4.5 Receptions
With the total over on points looking like a steal, we may as well continue to take the over on player props. This time, it’s George Kittle. The 49ers’ starting tight end had a solid performance last week against Green Bay. He totaled 81 yards on four catches with a touchdown. He showcased his rare athletic ability on one of those catches, turning it into a 32-yard gain.
He presents a matchup nightmare for Detroit, who’ve been terrible defending the tight end spot. In the regular season, they gave up 101 catches to tight ends, which ranks 6th highest in the entire league. In general, they’ve given up the 4th most passing yards with 4,562, the most out of any remaining playoff team. Also with the potential future absence of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle could easily see an uptick in targets.