Best Odds & Picks to Win NFL Conference Championships (2022)
The start of the 2022 NFL season is right around the corner. Every season is filled with surprises, some coming as late as January. Whether it be the Kansas City Chiefs blowing an 18-point lead to the Cinderella Cincinnati Bengals or Case Keenum, Blake Bortles, and Nick Foles all starting with a chance at the Super Bowl, the conference championship weekend is always one to remember. Here are my best bets to win the AFC and NFC Conference Championships.
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Buffalo Bills to win the AFC Conference (+350)
The Buffalo Bills enter the 2022 season as the favorites to win the AFC Conference. This should be no surprise as the Bills were just 13 seconds away from competing in the AFC Championship game last season. While the 2021 season may have ended at the hands of the grim reaper, Bills fans have a lot to look forward to in 2022.
Josh Allen has firmly solidified his place as a top three quarterback in the NFL and is already the favorite to win MVP this upcoming season. Additionally, the team added three-time All-Pro linebacker Von Miller and first-round rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam to bolster a defense that gave up a league-best 17.0 points per game in 2021. Also, coming off eight receptions, 201 yards, and four touchdowns in the Divisional Round, Gabriel Davis is primed for a third-year breakout to serve as the perfect complement to Stefon Diggs.
Sitting at -210 to win the AFC East and the league’s best net rest advantage, the Bills have great shot at locking up the #1 seed this season. If the AFC runs through Buffalo, I think the Bills are a great bet to represent the conference in the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Chargers to win the AFC Conference (+850)
With Justin Herbert entering year three, the Los Angeles Chargers are a team that is ready to explode in 2022. The 2021 season was a similarly disappointing one for Chargers fans. Despite ranking fifth in points per game and third in overall offensive efficiency, the Chargers finished just 9-8, missing the playoffs.
A major contributor to last season’s disappointment was a defense that ranked 29th in points per game, giving up 27 on average to opponents. The front office did however make moves to improve the defense by acquiring lockdown cornerback J.C. Jackson and three time All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack. Furthermore, the Chargers were just 1-3 in games decided by a field goal or less. Los Angeles is due for positive regression. With Herbert coming off a 5,014/38/15 season, Los Angeles should remain elite on the offensive side of the ball.
The Chargers are currently -160 to make the playoffs and with an improved defensive unit along with a top five offense, they could make some noise.
Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC Conference (+1000)
Oh, how quickly people forget. Despite an injury riddled roster in 2021, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens sat atop the AFC as true contenders with a 8-4 record. That was until Jackson himself went down with an injury that ended his season.
During that time, the Ravens experienced a five-game losing streak and finished the season just 8-9. However, the 2019 unanimous MVP is back in action this season and is fully healthy. Jackson also made great strides as a passer in 2021, throwing for 240.2 yards per game while still rushing for 63.9 yards per game.
While it may be a bit more difficult to win the AFC North with the recent emergence of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens should easily lock up a Wild Card spot at -165 to make the playoffs. Despite a career of playoff disappointment, I believe this could be the year Jackson finally finds success.
Green Bay Packers to win the NFC Conference (+500)
The wrong team is favored to win the NFC Conference this season. After Tom Brady’s unretirement, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shot back up to the top of the NFC at +350 to make the Super Bowl. However, the Green Bay Packers are a better team this upcoming season and a better bet to win the NFC.
The Packers have made the playoffs every year of Matt LaFleur’s three-year tenure as Head Coach. Even with the departure of star wideout Davante Adams, I expect they will still dominate a weak NFC North division. Adams has missed seven games over the course of the last three seasons. In those seven games, the Packers are 7-0, averaging 31.6 points per game. With or without Adams, Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, and his new contract extension displays the faith the Packers have in him. Rodgers has now led the league in interception percentage each of the last four seasons with marks of 0.3%, 0.7%, 1.0%, and 0.8%.
The Packers’ odds of making the playoffs are -410, making them a sure thing to contend in January. This will be the year the Packers finally break their cursed stretch of heartbreaking losses in the NFC Championships.
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