Super Bowl predictions

2022 Super Bowl odds, line, spread: Bengals vs. Rams picks, predictions from NFL expert on 22-9 roll.

One NFL franchise will break a long championship drought when the Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2022 Super Bowl on Sunday. The NFC champion Rams (15-5) are seeking their second championship in franchise history and first since 2000. Their last appearance came three years ago and resulted in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots. It's been an even longer drought for the AFC champion Bengals (13-7), who are still in search of their first Super Bowl victory.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 4.5-point favorite and the over-under for total points scored is 48.5 in the latest Super Bowl 56 odds from Caesars Sportsbook. Before you make any Rams vs. Bengals picks, you need to see the Super Bowl 56 predictions and betting advice from SportsLine NFL expert Brett Anderson, considering the heater he's on.

A CBS Sports NFL editor, Anderson has been covering the NFL and other sports for 25 years, from the Midwest to Midtown Manhattan to South Florida. He joined his first NFL picks pool at age 12 and has been hammering home underdogs ever since. His strategy is a hybrid of data, game film and gut instinct.

For the past three seasons, Anderson has emerged as one of SportsLine's most profitable NFL experts and is looking to build on what has been another outstanding season. The NFL analyst has posted a record of 22-9 on NFL picks throughout the 2021-22 NFL season to net his followers a profit of more than $1,200.

What's more, he has gone 3-0 on his against-the-spread picks in the 2022 NFL playoffs. These picks include advising SportsLine members to take the San Francisco 49ers +3.5 against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. San Francisco squandered a double-digit lead, but still covered the number in the 20-17 loss. Anyone who has followed Anderson is way up.

Now, Anderson has locked in on Rams vs. Bengals from every angle and just released his Super Bowl 56 picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the NFL odds and betting lines for Rams vs. Bengals:

--Bengals vs. Rams point spread: Los Angeles -4.5
--Bengals vs. Rams over-under total: 48.5 points
--Bengals vs. Rams money line: Los Angeles -200, Cincinnati +170
--LAR: Favorite is 3-1-1 against the spread in the past five Super Bowls
--CIN: Bengals have covered six consecutive games against opponents with winning records

Why the Rams can cover
Perhaps the greatest singular advantage on paper for the 2022 Super Bowl is the Rams' pass rush against a fragile offensive line that has been a major liability for Cincinnati. The Bengals allowed an NFL-high 51 sacks in the regular season, and the shaky protection for quarterback Joe Burrow has remained an issue throughout the 2022 NFL playoffs. He was sacked just three combined times in playoff wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, but was still hit 10 other times in those games.

Moreover, Burrow was memorably sacked nine times in the divisional round by a Tennessee Titans team that wasn't known for its daunting pass rush. The Titans had just 43 sacks in the regular season and ranked No. 25 overall against the pass. The Rams ranked third in the NFL with 50 sacks during the regular season and had 11 players who were credited with at least two. Eight-time Pro Bowl selection Aaron Donald led the way with 12.5 sacks and four passes defended.

Why the Bengals can cover
Many football observers believed the Bengals were probably at least a year away from becoming serious contenders because of their general lack of depth and inexperience on both sides of the ball. But they ended up ahead of the curve in no small part because of the confidence and production of quarterback Joe Burrow, who was taken the top overall pick two years ago.

Burrow guided the Tigers to an undefeated season and national title at LSU. His now-famous poise and confidence have carried over to pro game, as he has already delivered on his promise to turn the Bengals into a winner. Burrow was integral to Cincinnati's comeback from an 18-point deficit to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. He went 23-of-38 for 250 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He added 25 rushing yards on five attempts.

How to make Rams vs. Bengals Super Bowl picks
For Super Bowl 56, Anderson is leaning under on the point total, but he also says a critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and which side of the 2022 Super Bowl spread to back, at SportsLine.

So, who wins Rams vs. Bengals? And which side of the Super Bowl 56 spread is a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rams vs. Bengals spread you need to jump on, all from the expert who's hit 71 percent of his NFL picks this year, and find out.

Super Bowl expert predictions, odds and picks: The Athletic’s NFL writers make their picks for Bengals vs. Rams.

Super Bowl week is finally here. After 272 regular-season games and 12 playoff games it comes down to the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Rams at SoFi Stadium. It’s no surprise that of our 47 writers who participated in our Super Bowl poll, 30 picked the Rams to come out with the win at home. It’s been a miraculous run from the Bengals in the post-season, but most everyone who picked the Rams referenced how Aaron Donald and the Rams’ defensive line will exploit the Bengals’ weak offensive line.

There are plenty of Joe Burrow believers amongst The Athletic’s NFL staff. After seeing what Burrow did against the Titans and Chiefs, several writers said it won’t matter what the Rams throw at Burrow — he’ll overcome whatever he needs to do so. Several writers also pointed out how the Bengals’ defense should be able to force Matthew Stafford into some mistakes and that’ll be the difference in the game.

We also asked the writers for their opinions on the over/under, who will win the MVP, props for the stars and the Gatorade bath color for the coach.

Why the Rams will win
If the Rams play at their best, they are a complete, explosive and assertive group who can attack teams in all three phases, in a variety of ways. The Rams are also playing some of their best ball of the year up front and on either side, which is where this game could very well be won. — Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams writer

The Rams have fewer weak spots and a more sustainable belief that their offense will win its matchup. I really think that the game will be won by the Rams defense vs. the Bengals inability to block them up front. — Bob Sturm, Cowboys writer

The Rams have a frighteningly good defensive line while Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp look like they’ve been playing together since childhood. — Matt Barrows, 49ers writer

The Rams defensive line will overwhelm the Bengals’ offensive line. It all comes down to the trenches. — Tashan Reed, Raiders writer

Burrow has been able to mitigate the Bengals’ offensive line problems by making miraculous escapes but this Rams pass rush will be the most difficult one that he has faced in the playoffs. Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and Leonard Floyd will make Burrow’s life hell. Most importantly, the trio are bendy and athletic– they’ll be tough for Burrow to get away from. — Ted Nguyen, NFL writer

The Rams have an offensive and defensive arsenal that the Bengals haven’t seen yet in this postseason. Cincinnati handled the high-powered Chiefs offense, but it didn’t have to do it while also fending off a pass rush led by a future Hall of Famer like Aaron Donald. The Bengals are going to get it from both sides in this game, and it feels like it might be too much. — Stephen Holder, NFL writer

I’m daring the Bengals to surprise me for a fourth game in a row, so maybe it’s time to start believing in them. But the Rams have the pass rush to get after Joe Burrow the way the Titans did, and a balanced offense that should give them problems. The Rams win, convincingly. — Joseph Rexrode, Titans writer

Why the Bengals will win
Most of the game matchups favor the Rams, but the Bengals just have a team of destiny feel to them. I have no idea how the Bengals will block Aaron Donald, Von Miller and company with that offensive line, but Joe Burrow keeps finding ways to win and I think he’s got one more in him. — Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens writer

These are two impressive teams and they are closely matched, but if the Bengals can protect Joe Burrow, he is capable of owning this game. — Dan Pompei, NFL writer

A lot of the matchups favor the Rams, sure, especially their defensive front against Cincinnati’s O-line, but Joe Burrow has something special cooking right now, and I’m not going to pick against him. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears writer

Joe Burrow. Nothing seems to faze him. — Larry Holder, NFL writer

Turnovers have been the common thread for the Bengals throughout and will continue to be in picking off Matthew Stafford. — Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals writer

Does the Rams pass rush pose a threat? Absolutely. But Joe Burrow overcame nine sacks against the Titans and danced through an impressive Chiefs rush to get the Bengals to this stage. He’s actually been so good that the Bengals defense probably isn’t getting enough shine. That combination will yield the Bengals’ first Super Bowl. — Jeff Howe, NFL writer

It’ll be unpredictable, it’ll be from out of nowhere, it’ll be crazy. It’ll be Cincinnati. If you want a Super Bowl that’ll be a talker — and if you’re not from SoCal and/or have not made an investment — why would you want anything else? — Steve Buckley, senior writer

The Bengals are certainly going to have their hands full contending with the Rams pass rush, however, the Bengals have absolutely thrived in the underdog role in the playoffs, making the necessary adjustments on defense and rattling Patrick Mahomes and one of the best offenses in the league. I bet against them vs. the Chiefs, but the Bengals have shown that they aren’t rattled by their lack of playoff experience, and after watching their takedown of Mahomes, I’m certainly sold they can force a few more turnovers and match the Rams stride for stride. — Katherine Terrell, Saints writer

Madden predicts a nail-biting Bengals win in the Super Bowl.

The Cincinnati Bengals will capture their first Lombardi Trophy this Sunday in Super Bowl LVI, according to Madden NFL 22’s prediction of the big game.

Madden says that the Bengals, currently a 4.5-point underdog, will edge out the Los Angeles Rams on their home turf with a 24-21 victory. In Madden NFL 22’s simulation of the 2022 Super Bowl, the Bengals’ Joe Burrow throws two touchdown passes and secures the Super Bowl MVP award, becoming the first quarterback to win that honor as well as the Heisman Trophy and NCAA national championship.

It’s a come-from-behind win in which the Bengals overcome a valiant effort by the Rams, who are leading at halftime after touchdowns from running back Sony Michel and wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Rams quarterback Matt Stafford and wideout Odell Beckham Jr. connect on a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 21, a great moment for two men playing in their first Super Bowl after spending long careers with teams that mostly failed to make the playoffs. But it’s Bengals rookie phenom Evan McPherson who notches the winning field goal in the final minutes to send the Cincy fans into a frenzy.

Madden’s Super Bowl simulation — conducted in a CPU-vs.-CPU game on All-Pro/Simulation difficulty with six-minute quarters, the default settings for ranked Madden play — is an annual tradition that dates back to 2004. It’s just one data point, but the video game has correctly picked the Super Bowl winner more often than not, with a record of 11-7. (Last year’s prediction of a Chiefs victory over the Buccaneers was a complete whiff.)

Electronic Arts put together a fun video for its 2022 prediction, with retired NFL running back Marshawn Lynch playing the role of a psychic who is divining the beats of the game. It’s the second notable starring role in recent memory for the ex-Seahawks great — don’t miss his show-stealing guest appearance on Netflix’s Murderville.

Super Bowl LVI will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 13, from SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, California. This is the second time in NFL history — and the second year in a row — that the Super Bowl is taking place at the home field of one of the teams playing in it. (The Rams share SoFi Stadium with the Los Angeles Chargers.)

The game will be broadcast on NBC, with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth calling the action. Those without access to NBC can stream the game on Peacock, although that requires a subscription to at least the $4.99-a-month Peacock Premium tier.

Super Bowl predictions from readers.

The Super Bowl is the most watched sporting event in America. The 2021 NFL Super Bowl attracted 96.4 million viewers, making it the least watched Super Bowl since 2007 when the Indianapolis Colts played the Chicago Bears. The previous year, when the San Francisco 49ers played the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020, 102.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the game. And with the next Super Bowl less than two weeks away, fans of the gridiron are, once again, preparing for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

The Sports section came together to poll the audience of The News-Letter to get their thoughts on who would win the big game. They and writers of The News-Letter Sports section provided commentary on their picks.

Of the 22 individuals that filled out The News-Letter’s form and provided commentary, 13 chose the Cincinnati Bengals over the Los Angeles Rams.

Many who voted for the Bengals cited that their quarterback, Joe Burrow, would be the reason why they would win. Sophomore Kai Ko expanded on this sentiment.

“This is Burrow's season. With Louisiana State University (LSU) teammates on both the offensive and defensive, there is no doubt that he has a better connection to his team than first-year Rams Matthew Stafford,” he wrote. “Burrow's grit and his past winning experiences under coach Ed Oregon with the LSU Tigers has done nothing but prepare him for moments like this.”

Sophomore Hayden Lovinfosse also believes the Bengals will come out victorious even though they will be facing big names like Stafford, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Von Miller, Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr.

“I think the Bengals are going to shock the world and upset the Rams on the biggest stage. Although the Rams’ defense is stacked, I think that the Bengals will be able to somehow hold off one of the best pass rushing units we've ever seen,” he wrote. “The quarterback-receiver duo of Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase is nearly unstoppable at points. He also has weapons in Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, not to mention the rising of superstar place kicker Evan McPherson.”

Lovinfosse also asserted that the Bengals will win the Super Bowl.

“I think the underdog Bengals will come up victorious in this game. As long as their offensive line can hold off the pass rush, Chase and Higgins can burn through the secondary. On the other side of the ball, though, the defense might have a hard time in the secondary because they have to guard two wideouts who are currently in the prime of their career with a veteran quarterback under center,” he said. “The Bengals have a lot to worry about but also have a ton of momentum going into this game. The Bengals are not the postseason underdogs anymore. They are the real deal.”

Junior Coby Schoolman also believes the Bengals will pull through.

“No team has been more precise and efficient in their game management than Cincinnati over the past season,” he wrote. “Burrow runs games with an ease only matched by Sean McVay when burning timeouts, and while the Rams may have a superior defense, Cincinnati has fewer overall gaps in their game, and I think that the Lombardi Trophy will finally be coming to Cincinnati.”

On the other hand, some believe that the Rams, who have the home-field advantage, will be able to defeat the Bengal who still lack an indoor practice facility.

With a bit of sarcasm, senior Sports section writer Alex Forlenza claimed that the Rams could easily beat the Bengals.

“Donald, Leonard Floyd and Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Miller against a team that gave up 37 sacks in a game against the Tennessee Titans will be a fun matchup to watch,” he wrote.

Though not as enthusiastic as other Rams supporters, I am also leaning towards choosing them as our Super Bowl Champions. Home field advantage is not the most important aspect of a football game but for the Rams to play in SoFi stadium, a place that they’re all too familiar with and a place that will be packed with their fans, it’s hard to think that they won’t have the upper leg there. The Bengals will be traveling to the west coast from Ohio. Additionally, this is honestly the Rams’ last chance. The Rams have not made a first-round pick since taking Jared Goff in 2016. After trading Goff and two first-round picks to the Detroit Lions, they will not pick in the first round until 2024– assuming they don’t trade away more future picks.

Regardless of the outcome, the Hopkins community is excited and looking forward to the last game of the 2021 regular season.