NFL conference championship odds are of course being impacted by injury news. But as the final four teams make a push for the Super Bowl, key players are also getting healthy.
San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, for example, has been dinged up since late in the regular season. But he carries no injury designation ahead of this week’s NFL title clash at the Rams.
Props.com’s NFL Conference Championship Odds and Ends serves as a one-stop-shop for injury details, weather conditions, and Pros vs. Joes action. Check back throughout the week for injury updates, significant weather impacts, and notable contrasts between NFL conference championship sharp bets and public money.
NFL Conference Championship Injuries
San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a thumb injury late in the regular season. Garoppolo then wrenched his right (throwing) shoulder in his team’s Super Wild Card Weekend win at Dallas. But he played through the latter in last Saturday’s divisional-round upset of top-seeded Green Bay. Garoppolo was not on the injury report, and though his thumb is still a minor issue, he’s good to go.
Running back Elijah Mitchell (knee) was questionable midweek for Sunday’s NFC title game at the Los Angeles Rams. By Friday, though, Mitchell had no injury designation. Left tackle Trent Williams, who suffered an ankle injury in the win at Green Bay, is questionable after not practicing this week.
The SuperBook opened the 49ers +4, quickly moved to +3, then settled at +3.5 late Sunday night. On Wednesday, San Francisco adjusted to +3.5 (-120), and that’s the number Friday night. The total bounced between 46.5 and 46 a couple times, then dipped to 45.5 Friday afternoon.
Los Angeles Rams: Wideout Van Jefferson (knee) is questionable. On the plus side, veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee), who missed the divisional-round victory at Tampa Bay, was questionable midweek, but had no injury designation Friday. It appears Whitworth will play Sunday, which would be huge, because backup Joe Noteboom (pectoral) is doubtful. Los Angeles opened -4 at The SuperBook, dropped to -3 in short order, then settled at -3.5. On Friday, the Rams were at -3.5 (even). The total is down to 45.5 from a 46.5 opener.
Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati’s starters appear fairly healthy across the board heading into Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at Kansas City. Backup wideout Stanley Morgan, who has missed eight straight games with a hamstring injury, is the only skill player with an injury designation, and he’s doubtful.
The Bengals have been pinned to +7 in the NFL conference championship odds market at The SuperBook. On Thursday night, Cincy adjusted to +7 (even). The total shot from 50.5 to 53.5 in a hurry Sunday night and reached 55 Tuesday night, then backed up to 54.5 Wednesday. On Friday night, the total nudged down to 54.
Kansas City Chiefs: K.C.’s injury report is a clean sheet among offensive starters and is almost clean on defense, as well. The lone exception: cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, who remained questionable Friday after suffering a concussion in the divisional-round overtime win against Buffalo. The SuperBook has the Chiefs painted to -7, although Thursday the juice moved to -120. The total opened at 50.5, soared to 55 by Tuesday night and was at 54 Friday night.
NFL Conference Championship Weather
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs: For the second-to-last day of January, the forecast could certainly be far worse in Kansas City. Temperatures should be in the mid-to-high 40s, with winds of 5-10 mph for the 3 p.m. ET kickoff. With fair weather expected — and after watching the Chiefs outlast the Bills 42-36 in an overtime shootout — sharp bettors pounded the Over on The SuperBook’s 50.5 opener.
The total quickly rose to 53.5 Sunday night. Public bettors followed with more Over cash, as the total reached 55 Tuesday night before falling back to 54 by Friday night.
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams: SoFi Stadium, which also will host the Super Bowl, is ostensibly an indoor venue. So weather won’t be an issue in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game.
NFL Conference Championship Pros Vs Joes
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams: TwinSpires sportsbook trading analyst Zachary Lucas said the NFC Championship total is pitting the wiseguys against the public. TwinSpires opened at 46.5 and dipped to 46 on sharp action early on, then went to 45.5 Saturday. Ticket count is 3/1 on the Over, while money is 2/1 on the Under.