Who Is Favored In The Nfl Games Today
In anticipation of today’s column, I began trying to fetch my favorite memories of past NFL championship games from the deep crevices of my brain — the game and how it unfolded, but also the. The Kansas City Chiefs' bid for the NFL's first back-to-back Super Bowl victories in 16 years ended with a thud Sunday night in Tampa, Fla. After the Chiefs took a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter of Super Bowl LV, it was all QB Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense as the 'hosts' dominated the defending champs en route to a 31-9 victory - the second-most lopsided Super Bowl.
Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons are headed for a breakup, but finding a trade partner won’t be easy.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the early favorite to win league MVP for the 2021 NFL season. Mahomes is listed at +500 in the DraftKings odds, making him the preseason favorite. In 20 games this season, Griffin is averaging a career-low 12.3 points along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He would offer a boost to the Heat, who have struggled through injuries and COVID-19. This season marks the first time in NFL history that six games will be played on Wild Card Weekend. From 1990 to 2019, there were only 12 teams in the playoffs, which meant there was only a need.
The 31-year-old said this week that he appreciates the Pistons “understanding” what he wants to accomplish in his career. So, it begs the question of why Oklahoma City is favored to be the next team Griffin plays for if he’s traded?
The Thunder are 11-17 and tied for 13th in the Western Conference. They’re four games out of the eighth spot in the playoff picture and 4.5 games ahead of Minnesota, which entered Thursday as the only team with a worse record in the West.
Still, the Thunder are listed as the +300 favorites by PointsBet to land Griffin in a trade.
Griffin did play at Oklahoma in college and the Thunder have the ability to match salaries in a potential trade, thanks to Al Horford’s $27.5 million salary.
Related: NBA playoff predictions – Projecting East and West top 8 seeds, 2020-21 postseason bracket.
Griffin is currently sitting out for the rebuilding Pistons, who own the Eastern Conference’s worst record at 8-20.
The next shortest odds to land Griffin belong to the Miami Heat (+350) and Boston Celtics (+450).
The Heat (11-17) have fallen to 11th in the Eastern Conference during their three-game losing streak, but are still only two games behind the Charlotte Hornets, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors, who occupy the final three playoff spots.
The biggest hurdle for Miami — or any potential trade partner before the March 25 deadline — will be the remaining $36.6 million on Griffin’s contract this year and $39 million player option he holds for next season. In 20 games this season, Griffin is averaging a career-low 12.3 points along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
He would offer a boost to the Heat, who have struggled through injuries and COVID-19 protocols this season. It’s still unlikely that team president Pat Riley would saddle the roster with Griffin’s salary, but Miami could be a very viable destination should Detroit buy out the remaining two years of his contract.
Related: 2021 NBA mock draft – Minnesota Timberwolves find D’Angelo Russell replacement.
Boston is in a similar situation, with Griffin’s contract more than the Celtics’ available trade exception of $28.5 million for Gordon Hayward. That makes it nearly impossible for Boston to acquire Griffin, but the Celtics could be an appealing destination following a buyout.
The Celtics (14-14) are another team in need of a boost as they sit in fifth place in the East.
The next lowest trade odds at PointsBet belong to the Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers at +600, followed by the Portland Trail Blazers at +700.
Portland is tied for fourth place in the Western Conference at 18-10 and could use a boost in the frontcourt. However, the Trail Blazers would have to offload several players to acquire Griffin and his contract, which would offset the benefit of his addition.
Related: Check out our NBA TV schedule. Covering every game from now to the Championship.
–Field Level Media
Super Bowl LV is set. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-5) will face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (16-2). Tampa Bay will be the first Super Bowl team to play in its home stadium. Kickoff is set for Sunday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Below, we take a look at the early Chiefs-Buccaneers betting odds and lines at BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Bucs took the tough route to the big game, making the playoffs as a Wild Card team and winning three consecutive road games. They knocked off the No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers 31-26 in the NFC Championship Game. QB Tom Brady will make his 10th Super Bowl appearance and seeks his seventh title – the 43-year-old threw three touchdown passes in the Packers win. However, he also threw three second-half interceptions, but the Tampa Bay defense only allowed six points off those turnovers.
The Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl for a second year in a row. They defeated the visiting Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game 38-24. QB Patrick Mahomes passed for 325 yards and three TDs, WR Tyreek Hill had nine catches for 172 yards and TE Travis Kelce finished with 13 receptions for 118 yards and 2 scores. The Chiefs held the Bills to 5 of 14 on third downs to repeat as AFC champs.
Chiefs vs. Buccaneers: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; last updated Sunday at 11:52 p.m. ET.
Money line: Chiefs -165 (bet $165 to win $100) / Buccaneers +135 (bet $100 to win $135) Bet nowAgainst the spread: Chiefs -3, -110 (bet $110 to win $100 / Buccaneers +3, -110 (bet $110 to win $100) Bet nowWho Is Favored In The Nfl Games Today
Total:Who Is Favored In The Nfl Games Today On Tv
55.5, Over -110 (bet $110 to win $100) / Under -110 (bet $110 to win $100) Bet nowNew to NFL betting?
At -165 odds, the Chiefs have an implied 62.26% chance of winning, or 20/33 fractional odds and 1.61 decimal odds. Kansas City must win by 4 or more points for a Chiefs -3 (-110) ATS ticket to cash. A 3-point victory is a push and you get your money back.
Place your legal, online NFL bets in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA and WV at BetMGM, The King of Sportsbooks. New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Terms and conditions apply. Bet online now!
The Bucs, at +135 odds, have an implied 42.55% chance of winning or 27/20 fractional odds and 2.35 decimal odds. Tampa Bay needs to win outright, or lose by fewer than 3 points for a Buccaneers +3 (-110) ATS ticket to cash.
Who Is Playing In The Nfl Games Today
Also see:
Tampa Bay will be 1st Super Bowl team to play at home (Bucs Wire)Best Twitter reactions from AFC title victory vs. Buffalo (Chiefs Wire)
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