The final four NFL teams have advanced to Conference Championship Weekend and the early Super Bowl betting odds favor the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers to reach SB 55.
Only one of the four franchises and one of the four starting quarterbacks have yet to attain championship glory in the National Football League – The Buffalo Bills and their starting QB, Josh Allen.
Following four consecutive Super Bowl losses (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993), the Buffalo Bills fell onto hard times that lasted a quarter-century.
The tide turned for Buffalo and their rabid fan base when they selected Josh Allen 7th overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Allen was selected just before Chiefs’ QB Patrick Mahomes, and a victory this weekend will absolve the Bills of any criticism regarding selecting Josh higher.
Since that time, Allen has taken over the reins in Buffalo and has helped change the atmosphere in the Bills’ locker room.
While Allen learned to adjust to the advanced passing game of the NFL, he leaned on his rushing abilities which were backed by his 6’5″, 237-pound frame and 4.74 40-yard-dash time.
This year was different for Allen. The acquisition of free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs from Minnesota granted the third-year quarterback enough room to set the single-season Buffalo Bills passing record for yards and TDs, surpassing Drew Bledsoe and Jim Kelly, respectively.
Diggs was no slouch either, earning first-team NFL All Pro honors and posting the top numbers in the categories of catches and yardage with 123 for 1,535, including 8 touchdowns.
Although Buffalo appears poised to go all the way, current Super Bowl futures feature them as the third most likely team to win it all on February 7 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
Super Bowl 55 Winner
- Kansas City Chiefs +200
- Green Bay Packers +200
- Buffalo Bills +325
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +425
The point spread for the AFC Championship Game at the top Super Bowl betting sites favor the Kansas City Chiefs to win by 3 points, but that depends on whether KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes can return to play after a concussion caused him to miss most of the second half during the Divisional Round.
Mahomes has yet to clear concussion protocols and has a legitimate chance of missing the game. If bettors intend to take advantage of this possibility, wagers should be placed immediately, because once an announcement is made, the odds will shift within minutes.
Here is the current AFC Championship line posted at Bovada.
#2 Buffalo Bills vs. #1 Kansas City Chiefs (-3)
- Money Line: Bills +125, Chiefs -145
- O/U: 53.5
One of the “chief” components that makes NFL betting so attractive is the parity of game results that allow for underdogs to win at a higher rate than other sports.
When the NFL Playoffs begin, the competition becomes tighter, and a three-point margin may as well be removed from the table as the game should be considered a pick ’em.
Even if Mahomes suits up and starts on Sunday evening, the Bills still have a reasonable shot at winning the AFC and taking a crack at a Super Bowl championship. Sure, the future is bright for Buffalo, but it can be right now, and the odds suggest it is within their grasp.
Source: ESPN