NFL Conference Championships – Early Look
The 2008 – 2009 NFL Conference Championships are set and fans should already be thinking about what online football bet to make in both games.
The NFC Conference Championship match-up is one that few NFL betting fans even considered going into these playoffs. Both the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers were underdogs in their games this past weekend.
In the AFC the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t really a surprise but neither are the Baltimore Ravens who figured to do well in the playoffs with their fantastic defense.
Let’s take a sneak peak at both games!
AFC Conference Championship
Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – – At this point the BetUS online betting spread is 5 ½ points in favor of the Steelers. As a football betting fan, I have to lean towards the Ravens right now because 5 ½ points is an awful lot of points for the Steelers to cover in a game against a serious AFC North rival. In fact if the BetUS online sportsbook money line odds stay around +210 for the Baltimore Ravens, I might have to bet the Ravens straight-up to upset the Steelers.
It’s difficult for a team to beat a rival three times in one season. That’s what the Steelers will be attempting to do. Throwing passes to Nate Washington and Santonio Holmes against the San Diego Chargers is one thing. Doing it against Samari Rolle and Ed Reed is another. Then there’s the fact that the Ravens can pressure Big Ben. On offense, the Ravens have the type of runner in Le’Ron McClain that could bulldoze Troy Polamalu and Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison. I’m leaning towards the Ravens in this one.
NFC Conference Championship
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals – – I’m ecstatic that the Arizona Cardinals are underdogs, at home, against the Philadelphia Eagles in this game. BetUS has the Eagles as 3 point favorites to beat the Cardinals and make it to the Super Bowl. I’m not understanding the line at this point, but I won’t fight it. The Cardinals defense is playing better than any team out of the remaining four right now. The Cardinals offense is clicking on all cylinders and the Cardinals get to host the Eagles.
The Eagles did play very well in their two playoff games but things change this time around because their corners can’t cover Larry Fitzgerald and Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner is a master at reading the blitz. I’m squarely in the Cardinals’ corner right now and would definitely bet them to win this game straight-up at +160 should the online betting odds hold. That’s what I’m thinking of doing.
