Okay NFL pigskin gaming enthusiasts, with just over 48 hours to go before the start of the conference championships, I’m checking in one final time with a pair of ATS picks that are sure to please those last second bettors that are still looking for some expert betting advice.
Okay, with that said, let’s get started with these NFL predictions against the spread.
Last Second NFL Conference Championship ATS Picks
Green Bay (12-6) at Atlanta (12-5)
When: 3:05 PM ET, Sunday, January 22, 2017
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
NFL Odds: Falcons -4 / Total: 60
Analysis: Simply put, I’ll reiterate what I’ve been saying all week. I like Aaron Rodgers and believe he’s the best quarterback in the game today (sorry Tom Brady), but the fact of the matter is that I like the Atlanta Falcons to get past Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers in their NFC Championship matchup on Sunday.
Nevertheless, I do want to encourage you to back the Packers to get the narrow ATS cover as a slight 4-point road dog, mostly because I believe this contest will be decided by a field goal no matter which team wins. Green Bay has posted a perfect 4-0 ATS mark in their last four road playoff games while also going 5-1 ATS in their last six road games against a team with a winning home record.
Green Bay has won their last four road games and 11 of their last 20 road dates overall while going 12-8 ATS during the two and a half year span. I say Aaron Rodgers leads Green Bay to the ATS cover, but Matt Ryan and the Falcons win outright to reach Super Bowl 51.
Pick: Green Bay Packers +4 Points
Pittsburgh Steelers (13-5) at New England Patriots (15-2)
When: Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 6:40 PM ET
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
NFL Odds: New England -6 / Total: 50.5
Analysis: I won’t beat around the bush with my pick on the AFC Championship as I fully expect Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers to cover the spread as surprising 6-point road dogs against Tom Brady and a New England Patriots team that isn’t overly explosive offensively this season.
Pittsburgh is a perfect 5-0 ATS in their last five road games and a bankroll-boosting 13-3-3 ATS in their last 19 games in the month of January. The New England Patriots are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a winning record, but a shocking 1-6 ATS in their last seven conference championship matchups.
Mike Tomlin’s squad has gone 3-1 ATS in their last four games as an underdog between 5.5 and 6.0 points dating back to 2006 and 5-3 ATS over their last eight such contests going back to 2000. With the Underdog in this AFC rivalry going 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings, I say it’s a virtual lock that Pittsburgh gets the ATS cover at the very least!
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers +6 Points
