Underdogs Upset Bettors, Favorites in NFL Conference Championships

The underdogs kept several sportsbooks healthy in the NFL Conference Championships, as bettors went with the favorites in many cases, and ended up losers in both Sunday games. The New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams won outright in the AFC and NFC title games. It was the first time in the Super Bowl era that both went to overtime.

At William Hill the money was on the favorites. In the AFC Championship 59 percent of the tickets on the point spread were on Kansas City, with 64 percent of the money on the Chiefs, who were favored by three points.

In the NFC Championship, New Orleans, who was a three-point pick, held a slight edge on tickets on the point spread with 53 percent. They were 64 percent of the money wagered on the game.

At the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook the money wagered was split between an underdog and a favorite. The sportsbook reported that 57 percent of the tickets on the spread in the NFC Championship was on the Rams, and 61 percent of money bet. While the Chiefs had 58 percent of the tickets on the spread, as well as 58 percent of the money spent.

The over/under bets were also split. In the Rams-Saints game 58 people took the over. The game went under. In the Chiefs-Patriots contest, 51 percent took the under, and the game went over.

Underdog Brady Cashes for Bettors

The New England Patriots came into Arrowhead Stadium as three-point underdogs against Kansas City. It was the first time since the 2015 AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos that Tom Brady and the Patriots were underdogs in the playoffs. In that game New England was getting five points, but lost to the Broncos 26-16.

The team had been a playoff underdog four other times in the Brady era and had a 2-2 record. They evened that mark to 3-3, after a thrilling final four minutes that saw the lead change three times and the Chiefs tie the game to force overtime with eight seconds remaining.

The Patriots won the coin toss and then marched down the field to score the winning touchdown, thus punching their ticket to the Super Bowl and cementing Brady’s legacy as the best quarterback ever.

We played our best football at the end,.” Brady said. “I don’t know, man, I’m tired. That was a hell of a game.”

Rams, Saints Ends in Controversy

The NFC Championship game was equally as exciting, but one non-call by the referees spoiled the Los Angeles Ram’s overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints were upset when an apparent pass interference penalty was not called, denying the team a chance to continue a drive. A day later, Saints owner Gayle Benson posted a statement on the team’s website.

“No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field,” Benson wrote. “As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday.”