Los Angeles vs Cincinnati prediction, game preview, how to watch and lines for the Super Bowl, Sunday, February 13
Los Angeles vs Cincinnati Super Bowl How To Watch
Date: Sunday, February 13
Game Time: 6:30 ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
How To Watch: CBS
Record: Cincinnati (11-7), Los Angeles (12-5)
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Los Angeles vs Cincinnati Super Bowl Game Preview
Why Cincinnati Will Win the Super Bowl
No one likes or buys into the idea of “playing with house money” once you get to the Super Bowl, but that’s what Cincinnati is doing.
You never, ever know when you’re going to get back to this thing, and it’s hardly a guarantee that Joe Burrow and company will have more than just this one shot, but there’s a general belief and feeling that this whole thing is just getting going.
Young superstar quarterback, young superstar receivers, young rising head coach, and fixable issues – like the offensive line – that can only make everything stronger.
In other words, the pressure is off as much as can possibly be.
The game is in Los Angeles, the Rams have been in the Super Bowl relatively recently, the 2021-2022 was built to win right now with the future mortgaged away, and with a 34-year-old Matthew Stafford just about to be on the other side of his prime.
On the field, it starts with takeaways. Both teams can crank up the offense, Cincinnati can’t do this, though, without winning the turnover battle.
That was what ended up undoing Kansas City – with several close calls before the overtime interception that changed everything – and it’s going to take at least two to stay alive.
For all the great things Cincinnati has done over the second half of the season and the playoff run, being careful with the ball is at the top of the list.
There was an interception against the Chiefs and one giveaway against Tennessee, and that’s been it. The Bengal offense has been totally clean outside of that since early December with a grand total of zero turnovers over a five-game stretch before the win over the Titans.
On the other side, the defense that was feast-or-famine in takeaways has come up with two or more in each of the last four game with the three against Tennessee making the difference.
The Rams didn’t give it away against Arizona, but they almost gave up the Tampa Bay game with four turnovers. There was just the one in the NFC Championship against the 49ers, but the O had a whole slew of problems over the final stretch of the season with eight turnovers in the final three games.
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– What’s Going To Happen, Prediction
NEXT: Why Los Angeles Will Win the Super Bowl
Why Los Angeles Will Win the Super Bowl
All roads lead to Joe Burrow.
Everyone’s focus will be on the high-powered offenses, the great quarterbacks, the flash of skill parts, and Cooper Kupp having the greatest season ever by a wide receiver. If the Rams win this, it’s going to be on the defensive front.
Aaron Donald and Von Miller. Don’t be surprised if one of those two isn’t the MVP.
The Los Angeles run defense has been a rock throughout the playoffs. San Francisco could never get Elijah Mitchell going – the team’s longes run was just nine yards – Arizona inexplicably didn’t get Kyler Murray on the move, and Tampa Bay got down so big it had to all but abandon the run.
Again, yeah, Cincinnati is all about Burrow, but it all starts with Joe Mixon. Burrow will get his yards, but Job One will be to take out 28 and keep him from setting the early tone for the O.
Stop Mixon, turn the Ram defensive front loose on a shaky Cincinnati offensive front that’s been getting Burrow beaten up all season long.
Even though they did a fantastic job on third downs against the Chiefs, the Bengals are more into the big thing than just keeping things moving, The Rams might not be all that great defensively on third, but they held San Francisco to just 3-of-9 conversions and should be able to take over at times.
– What’s Going To Happen, Prediction
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Who’s Going To Win the Super Bowl
What’s Going To Happen, Who’s Going To Win the Super Bowl
The two weeks off are going to matter.
Every NFL team no matter the the overall age needs time off at this time of year, the older Rams should benefit a wee bit more.
Don’t think of the Bengals as inexperienced, though. College doesn’t necessarily translate into the pros, but Cincinnati is loaded with players who have been in the big moments and aren’t going to buckle under the pressure. However, if the graybeard Los Angeles lines are just a wee bit more back to feeling okay, that’s going to mean everything.
Oh sure, Matthew Stafford will play just fine, Joe Burrow will be great, and both running games should be decent enough to matter, but it’ll be the Ram defense that takes over in the second half.
How did Tampa Bay beat Kansas City last year? The Buccaneer defensive front beat up Patrick Mahomes.
San Francisco stayed alive in LIV by knocking Mahomes around, but it was the Kansas City defense that stepped up and pressured Jimmy Garoppolo.
How did New England beat the Rams in that LIII 13-3 snoozer? Four sacks, 12 quarterback hits, and no room whatsoever for Todd Gurley to move.
Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, and Von Miller. Those three are going to live in the Cincinnati backfield when it counts.
Oh, there will be plenty of big plays and points, but in the end, it’ll be the defense that wins this championship.
Los Angeles vs Cincinnati Super Bowl Prediction, Line
Los Angeles 26, Cincinnati 17
Line: Los Angeles -4.5, o/u: 48.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 5
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