Four teams are going to be cut down to two, and the prop bets highlighted for this week include all four of them. There’s one tight end achieving and one underachieving, a wide receiver with a number too low to pass up and another whose ask is just too high, and Mr. Irrelevant proving his relevance
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook
5
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce scores a touchdown (+115)
Any time you get Kelce scoring a touchdown at better than even money in the playoffs, you take it. In his last 15 games, Kelce has scored 15 touchdowns and has at least one score in 12 of those games and three of four games not played at Arrowhead Stadium. In five career games against the Baltimore Ravens, he has not caught fewer than six passes. As if his postseason production wasn’t enough to consider this bet, his consistent volume when facing the Ravens should be.
4
Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews UNDER 35.5 receiving yards (-115)
Andrews has been activated off Injured Reserve and there is the feeling that he is going to make an immediate impact. However, he hasn’t been part of the Ravens’ run to the No. 1 seed and will likely be on a snap count, especially seeing as the success that Isaiah Likely has had in his absence. Andrews has caught more than four passes in just one of his last five games and may need four catches or more to top this number.
3
San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy OVER 279.5 passing yards (-115)
Purdy’s O/U numbers are always high, because teams that are capable of trying to match the 49ers on the scoreboard help force the issue. The Detroit Lions defense has showed a lot of improvement this season but have allowed 718 passing yards in their two playoff games. The feeling is that San Francisco can run the ball on the Lions, but the Niners will be going for the throat, which will translate into a lot of passes (and yards) for Purdy.
2
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown UNDER 7.5 receptions (-130)
St. Brown is a volume receiver who has averaged seven catches a game this season. But that’s not eight. And that’s what he needs this week. This O/U number for St. Brown has been consistent, because he always approaches this number … but doesn’t consistently top it. He caught eight passes last week to top an identical O/U, but that was just the second time in the last seven games he did it. If a player has a yardage number of 100.5 yards and has gone past it just twice in seven games, the number drops. It hasn’t for St. Brown. He will catch a minimum of five passes. More than likely he’ll catch six or seven. But eight two weeks running? That’s asking a lot.
1
Kansas City Chiefs WR Rashee Rice OVER 62.5 receiving yards (-115)
Over the last six games of the regular season, Rice became the primary receiving threat in the Chiefs offense after fighting his way to the top of the depth chart. He has topped this number in six of the last eight games and had six receptions in one of the two games he didn’t. In his last eight games, he has caught 55 passes for 695 yards – an average of seven catches for 87 yards. The Chiefs will be facing an uphill battle to win on the road in Baltimore. If they’re to have a chance, Rice is going to have to take advantage of 50/50 balls downfield. He may need only four catches to hit this number and will likely get those opportunities.
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