NFC Championship Game Betting Preview

The Los Angeles Rams are listed as an underdog for the first time this season as they face the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game this weekend.

The oddsmakers at Bovada Sportsbook have listed the Rams as a 3.5-point road underdog. Los Angeles advanced to the title game by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 30-22 as a 7-point favorite last week. That was the Rams’ third straight win both straight up and against the spread, but they’re still only 4-3-1 ATS in their last eight.

Rams 2-12 SU in last 14 as underdogs

The Rams were never listed as an underdog this season for good reason, and it could be their downfall this weekend. Prior to this season, in their last 14 games as an underdog, the Rams were 2-12 SU and 2-11-1 ATS. In the playoffs as an underdog, the Rams are 3-5 SU and ATS in their last eight.

The Saints advanced last week by taking down the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 as an 8.5-point favorite. That was the Saints’ fourth straight loss ATS, and they’re 1-5 ATS in their last six. At home the Saints are 4-5 ATS in their last nine, and they have similar numbers in the playoffs at home, where they’ve won seven straight while going 3-4 ATS.

Overall in the postseason the Saints are 4-4 SU and ATS in their last eight. As a playoff favorite, they’re 6-2 SU in their last eight, but only 2-6 ATS. The Saints have been a strong OVER play for totals bettors as a playoff favorite with a 10-1 OVER mark in their last 11.

Home team 5-0 SU in last 5 NFC title games

The Rams and Saints met up in New Orleans in Week 9 and the Saints posted a 45-35 win as a 2-point underdog. The 80 points scored went well OVER the posted total of 57.

Including the Week 9 matchup, the Rams and Saints have evenly split their last 10 matchups with five wins apiece. The Rams have a slight edge ATS in those games at 6-4. In New Orleans it’s been a different story, as the Saints have won three straight at home vs the Rams both SU and ATS.

If recent NFC championship game trends continue, the Saints may be marching to the Super Bowl on Sunday. In the last five NFC title games, the home team is 5-0 SU and they’ve won three straight ATS. The favorite is 5-1 SU in the last six, and for totals bettors the last four NFC title games have all gone OVER the total.