NFL Odds for Conference Championship Games: Lines, Spreads, Betting Trends for AFC, NFC Title

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

11 minute read

NFL Odds for AFC, NFC Title Games

NFL odds for conference championship games are all set. The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs punched their ticket to the AFC title game, as did the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions for the NFC title game.

As the top seeds, playing at home, the Ravens and Niners are favored to advance to the Super Bowl.

Here’s everything you need to know about the NFL odds conference championship market: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for both games, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on NFL conference championship odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

NFL Odds for Conference Championship Games

Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers Odds

• Opening point spread: 49ers -7
• Opening moneyline: 49ers -310/Lions +250
• Opening total: Over/Under 50.5 points scored
• Time: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday (FOX)

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET SUNDAY: As kickoff approaches, the 49ers are -7 (-120) in BetMGM's NFL odds conference championship market. The Lions are the popular play, particularly on the moneyline at BetMGM, with tickets almost 9/1 and money 5/1 on Detroit.

"We're gonna be rooting for the 49ers -- 49ers and Under. Way more Lions money," BetMGM's Christian Cipollini said. "The 49ers [Super Bowl] futures money is worse. But at this point, Lions moneyline + Lions futures is now worse."

BetMGM's total just moved from 52.5 to 53, then back to 52.5, after starting the day at 51.5. The total opened at 51 last Sunday and briefly backed up to 50.5, then spent much of the week at 51/51.5.

UPDATE 8:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: The 49ers have been painted to -7 all week at Station Sports in Las Vegas. San Francisco is currently -7 (-120).

"It's kind of a strange game. Ticket count from the average Joes clearly favors the Lions, on straight bets, parlays, moneyline parlays – pretty much across the board," Esposito said. "But money wagered favors the 49ers. And the largest sharp bet was on the 49ers."

The total went from 52 to 51.5 and back to 52 at Station books.

"Ticket count definitely favors the Over," Esposito said.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Circa Sports opened the 49ers -7 on Sunday. San Fran then spent the early part of the week toggling between -7/-6.5 at various juice, with a low point of 6.5 flat.

The Niners spent Tuesday-Friday at various iterations of -7, then Friday afternoon went to -7.5 (even). Part of the calculus for that move could be that 49ers star wideout Deebo Samuel (shoulder) is expected to play Sunday.

This morning, San Fran fell back to -7 (-120), but there's a clear betting lean in the NFL odds conference championship market.

"Niners money early and often," Benson said.

Cira opened the total at 51.5 Sunday and quickly receded to 51. Thursday morning brought two moves within a half-hour of each other, to 51.5 and 52.

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: TwinSpires moved the 49ers up to -7.5 (-105) Wednesday, after opening -7. Detroit is seeing 62% of early spread tickets, while 56% of early spread money is on San Francisco.

"Both games have similar splits. The public is on both 'dogs, and there's sharp play on the favorites," Lucas said. "Cinderella teams like Detroit usually end up being a popular bet, especially on the moneyline. Lions outright would guarantee a losing Sunday for us."

At the moment, moneyline tickets and cash are running 2/1 on Detroit.

TwinSpires opened the total at 50.5 and is up to 51.5. The Over is netting 62% of tickets/72% of money.

"Bettors are expecting a shootout. We are hoping for the opposite," Lucas said.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: BetMGM opened the Lions -7 Sunday night and quickly receded to -6.5. The number has been stable at Detroit -7 (-105) since Monday morning. Tickets and money are running 2.5/1 in favor of the Lions.

Further, early moneyline action is heavily tilted toward Detroit, with tickets 8/1 and money 3/1-plus. The heavily engaged Michigan market is having a significant impact on BetMGM's national numbers.

"We're heavy to the Lions right now. It might stay that way, with us having a Michigan presence, but no sports betting in California," Cipollini said.

The total opened at 50.5 and has been steady at 51 since Sunday night. Ticket count is almost dead even, while 71% of money is on the Over.

UPDATE 7 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Detroit (14-5 SU and ATS) held off Tampa Bay 31-23, cashing as a 6-point home favorite. The Lions are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six games and, generally speaking, have been a spread-covering machine since the middle of last season.

Now, third-seeded Detroit travels to No. 1 seed San Francisco. The SuperBook opened the 49ers -7 on its NFC Championship Game odds board.

"We didn't want to open up south of 7 if we could avoid it," SuperBook risk supervisor Chase Michaelson said. "We'll need Detroit for sure. I'm sure we'll get some wiseguy action on Detroit +7. But we still will likely be overwhelmed with San Francisco money."

About 75 minutes after opening Lions-49ers, The SuperBook backed up to San Fran -6.5.

"We basically wanted to take some Lions money to chop into our inevitable decision. We will certainly need Detroit," Michaelson said. "If Deebo Samuel gets announced in, this thing will skyrocket."

Samuel suffered a shoulder injury during the 49ers' Saturday win over Green Bay. He's currently questionable to play Sunday.

The SuperBook opened the total at 51.5 in its NFL odds conference championship market. There was almost immediate movement to 52. However, that met some resistance in the market. Less than an hour after opening, the total is down to 51.

UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: San Francisco closed as a 10.5-point home favorite against Green Bay, but barely got out of the NFL Divisional Round. The Niners (13-5 SU/9-9 ATS) needed a late Christian McCaffrey touchdown to notch a 24-21 victory.

San Fran is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games (5-5 ATS). One of those losses was in a meaningless regular-season finale vs. the L.A. Rams.

The 49ers now await either the Lions or the Bucs. But again, FanDuel Sportsbook went ahead and put up NFC Championship Game odds on both possible matchups. San Francisco opened -7 vs. Detroit and -10 vs. Tampa Bay. Bucs-Niners quickly advanced to San Fran -10.5.

Check back for the Sunday update on NFL odds for conference championship games.

In-Progress Game for NFL Conference Championship Weekend

Kansas City Chiefs vs Baltimore Ravens Odds

• Opening point spread: Ravens -3.5 (-115) vs. Chiefs
• Opening moneyline: Ravens -194/Chiefs +162
• Opening total: Over/Under 44.5 points scored
• Time: 3 p.m. ET Sunday (CBS)

UPDATE 2:45 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Shortly before kickoff, BetMGM remains at Ravens -4.5 (-105), where it's been since this morning. Baltimore opened -3.5 last Sunday night and went to -4 Saturday.

The Ravens are landing 55% of spread bets/68% of spread money. On the moneyline, 71% of bets are on Kansas City, but 61% of cash is on Baltimore. That includes bets of $175,000 and $100,000 on Ravens moneyline -200

"We are rooting for the Chiefs and the Under here," BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini said. "We are still taking Chiefs bets, but more Ravens bets."

The total opened at 45, spent much of the week at 44.5 and is now at 44. However, the Over is seeing 73% of tickets/71% of dollars.

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Station Sports, which operates several sportsbooks around Las Vegas, opened AFC Championship Game odds on the low end. Baltimore hit the board as a 3-point favorite.

"It took a few days to drive us to Ravens -3.5 and -4," Station sportsbook director Chuck Esposito said this afternoon, while acknowledging he's aware of the Ravens -4.5 spread at Circa. "There's nothing to push us in the direction of 4.5 yet. Right now, it looks like we're going to be Chiefs fans."

At least on the point spread. The moneyline is another story at Station.

"We are seeing a lot of Chiefs moneyline play. The ticket count on the Chiefs is quite a bit higher than the Ravens," Esposito said. "Right now, we'd be looking at a scenario of Ravens winning by 1, 2 or 3 as the perfect outcome. But a lot can change between now and kickoff."

Station opened the total at 46 and dropped down to 44.5. This afternoon, it nudged up to 45.

"Initially, there was some sharp action on the Under. But ticket count clearly favors the Over, as does the money bet," Esposito said.

UPDATE 2 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Over the past 18 hours, Circa Sports has twice moved the Ravens out to -4.5 on the NFL conference championship odds board. Baltimore opened -3.5 Sunday and on Monday briefly went to -3, juiced to -120/-125, before going to -3.5 (even).

On Tuesday, Circa was the first book to go to Ravens -4. Baltimore advanced to -4.5 Friday evening, returned to -4 for about 45 minutes this morning, then returned to -4.5. Circa is the only sportsbook Ravens -4.5.

"All Ravens money. We're begging for a K.C. bet," Circa Sports director of operations Jeff Benson said.

Circa's total toggled between the 44.5 opener and 44 a few times this week. It's currently at 44.5 (Under -115).

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Ostensibly 72 hours out from the opener in the NFL odds conference championship market, TwinSpires Sportsbook is among a few shops that have the Ravens at -4. Baltimore opened -3.5 Sunday evening and went to -4 Wednesday.

The Chiefs are landing 68% of spread tickets, while 60% of spread cash is on the Ravens.

"It's shaping up to be a Pros vs. Joes matchup. The public is finding it hard to pass on K.C. getting 4 points, with the playoff success the Chiefs have had," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

Further, on the moneyline, it's 70% tickets/77% money on Kansas City.

"Chiefs moneyline is an extremely popular side," Lucas said.

TwinSpires' total opened and remains 44.5. The Over is seeing 54% of early tickets/58% of early dollars.

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Save for some brief moments at Ravens -3, BetMGM has been steady at -3.5 in its NFL odds conference championship market. At the moment, Baltimore is -3.5 (-115), so there's a lean toward -4. In fact, multiple sportsbooks moved to -4 Tuesday and remain there today, including Circa Sports and The SuperBook.

The Ravens are taking a modest majority 54% of spread bets at BetMGM, but a more notable 70% of spread money. On the moneyline, Kansas City is netting 65% of bets, while 61% of cash is on Baltimore.

"Right now, we're taking more Ravens bets. But +3.5 is all Chiefs money, and -3 is all Ravens money," BetMGM trader Christian Cipollini said.

The total opened at 45 and has spent the first half of the week at 44.5. Tickets and money are running in the 3/1 range on the Over.

UPDATE 9:45 P.M. ET SUNDAY: Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City reached the AFC Championship Game for the sixth consecutive year. The defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, catching 2.5 points on the road, held off Buffalo 27-24 when the Bills missed a late field goal.

After a late-regular-season lag, K.C. (13-6 SU/11-7-1 ATS) is on a 4-0 SU and ATS surge. Still, The SuperBook opened AFC Championship Game odds at Baltimore -3.5 (even).

"The Ravens are power-rated higher than K.C., and they're at home," SuperBook risk supervisor Chase Michaelson said shortly after the odds posted. "Kansas City's offense hasn't put it together against a healthy defense all year. And Baltimore has just smoked every good team it's played this season."

The total opened at 45.5 in The SuperBook's NFL odds conference championship market. That number was on the move quickly, dropping a point to 44.5 within 10 minutes tonight.

UPDATE 7:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Baltimore (14-4 SU/12-6 ATS) was stuck in a 10-10 tie with Houston in the opening Divisional Round game. But the Ravens took over in the second half and rolled to a 34-10 victory as 10-point home favorites.

John Harbaugh's squad is 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS in its last eight games. The lone SU loss was in a meaningless regular-season finale against Pittsburgh, in which Lamar Jackson and many other starters rested.

Next up for the Ravens: Either the Chiefs or Bills, who meet Sunday night in Buffalo. FanDuel Sportsbook went ahead and posted AFC Championship Game odds for both possible matchups. Top-seeded Baltimore opened -3 (-115) vs. Buffalo and -3.5 (-115) vs. Kansas City.

Check back for a Sunday update in the NFL odds conference championship market.

Completed Games for NFL Conference Championship Weekend

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson