Ravens-49ers Showdown Is Favored To Super Bowl XLIV Matchup

As the NFL’s playoffs are about to get underway, BetOnline.ag has released a number of futures for the postseason. That includes odds to win each conference, early Super Bowl MVP odds as well as early lines on predicting what the Super Bowl matchup will be.

Let’s take a look at some of the best bets on the board with this prop as you could find a little bit of value in the lines if you can accurately tab the two teams that will play in Super Bowl XLIV:

BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
SUPER BOWL XLIV MATCHUP ODDS: +375

It is easiest to imagine a world in which the two No. 1 seeds, the two teams with home-field advantage throughout the NFL Playoffs, will meet in the Super Bowl. They both have a wild card bye, are both able to rest up and heal their injuries and their toughest opponents will have to play them on their own home turf.

The Ravens are the best bet of any team to make the Super Bowl because whereas there is no especially strong team in the AFC other than the Ravens, the 49ers have to deal with two other 13-win teams in the conference. In total, five of the four teams in the NFC won at least 11 games.

BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
SUPER BOWL XLIV MATCHUP ODDS: +600

The Ravens are going to be hard to beat as they led the league in wins and are stocked with the league MVP, Lamar Jackson. They’re also toting 12 Pro Bowlers and four All-Pro players.

The much bigger question is on the NFC side where the Saints – who lost to the 49ers by only two points earlier this year – have a very realistic chance of moving through the NFC bracket and making the Super Bowl – if they can survive on the road. New Orleans was a 13-3 team and it’s rare for a 13-3 team to not get a wild card bye. Somehow, that happened this season, with Green Bay getting the other bye along with San Francisco. New Orleans should beat Green Bay if the two teams meet in the divisional round of the playoffs as the Packers were a bit shaky at times this season.

If New Orleans can get back to the NFC Championship Game to play the 49ers, the Saints – having lost to the Niners in the regular season and having lost in the NFC Championship Game last year – will be out for revenge.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
SUPER BOWL XLIV MATCHUP ODDS: +650

If you’re eying other teams in the AFC, consider the Kansas City Chiefs for a couple of reasons. To start, they have a wild card bye and get a home game in the divisional round. Secondly, they were one of the two teams to beat the Ravens in the regular season.

For a rematch in Baltimore, one can expect the Ravens’ defense to create more of an obstacle. They’ve improved a lot since that first meeting as the acquisition of Marcus Peters and the return of Jimmy Smith has given their secondary a big boost. However, if any quarterback can overcome the Ravens’ defense, it is Patrick Mahomes, one of the more gifted quarterbacks to play in the NFL in a long time.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
SUPER BOWL XLIV MATCHUP ODDS: +375

Last season, the Super Bowl would have been Patriots-Saints if the refs had called a blatant pass interference against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. The Saints would surprise very few people if they won the NFC, but on the other end of this prop, it feels like the Patriots would be a surprise if they won the AFC. Remember, they don’t have a bye for the first time in 10 years.

The Patriots have never won the AFC championship when being a wild card team this century. They were a wild card team when they made Super Bowl XX over 30 years ago, but the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady teams never won the AFC from a wild card spot. Yet, the Patriots are known for playing their best football in the playoffs, so do you really want to count them out?

For a full list of the matchup options with the odds for each, check out this link.

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