NFL Conference Championship Picks: Who Will Reign Supreme in 2024?

It’s getting close to a final matchup in the Super Bowl! We've got our NFL Conference Championship picks for you, but first... there’s a lot to unpack in the upcoming NFL conference predictions featuring Ravens vs. Chiefs and Lions vs. 49ers. Two teams go home, while two teams advance, that’s just the way things go. Before the games begin, just ensure you’ve placed a few wagers and know all about NFL betting.

Divisional Round Recap: Path to the Championships

The Divisional Round offered up a few surprises, as many were shocked to see that the Lions easily dealt with the tough Buccaneers team, 31-23. The 49ers defeating the Packers wasn’t too surprising, although the score was mighty close and Green Bay could have tied things up at the end, but things finished 24-41 to San Francisco in the NFC.

In the AFC, Kansas City only just squeaked past Buffalo, 27-24, and it’s that championship experience that really helps at times like these. Seeing Baltimore absolutely trounce the Texans, 34-10, wasn’t a shock, but it was great to see the Texans make a few steps that’ll help next season.

Check the full playoff bracket over here to see how it all unfolds before the NFL championship predictions occur.

NFL Conference Games Schedule

Here’s when are where you can catch the two Conference Championship games on Sunday, January 28^th.

• Chiefs @ Ravens – M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore) at 3pm ET on CBS, Paramount+, NFL+

• Lions at 49ers – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.) at 6:30pm ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, NFL+

Conference Championship Odds 

Before we take a look at the NFL Conference predictions, it’s worth discussing the odds, spreads, and over/under for the upcoming games.

Kansas Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens

Moneyline: Chiefs +170 / Ravens -205

Spread: Ravens -3.5

Over/Under: 44.5

Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers

Moneyline: Lions +270 / 49ers -345

Spread: 49ers -7.0

Over/Under: 51.0

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens Analysis

Let’s begin our NFL Conference Championship picks with the first game on Sunday.

The quarterback battle between Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes for a shot at the Super Bowl... this is why we love the NFL. Jackson has been playing like an MVP all season and the Ravens have the best defense that has shut down even the best offenses in the NFL. It would be unwise to discount the Chiefs when Mahomes is around, but this is one tough uphill fight.

There are a couple of issues that are holding back the Chiefs, namely that the team is suffering from several dropped passes from Mahomes all through the playoffs. The team is still winning, of course, but those kinds of mistakes are glaring against an inescapable defense from the Ravens.

Jackson has been working excellently with Zay Flowers and the two have an equilibrium that is hard to match. Plus, Mark Andrews is back for Baltimore, and he’s one of the most reliable catchers for Jackson. The Ravens will undoubtedly have to do the heavy lifting in the first half, as the Chiefs are known for second-half comebacks and stout defense.

Still, Baltimore playing at home and in such great form is hard to beat, so we’ll pick the Ravens to win by covering the spread and choose the over.

Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers Analysis

The second of our NFL Conference predictions is a bit more interesting. Overhanging concern surrounds 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Although he's supposed to be feeling improved since a shoulder injury he sustained in the Divisional Round, it's still a game-time decision if he'll get on the field. The 49ers can win without him, for sure, but Samuel is such a presence that he'd turn the tide. The 49ers went 12-1 in 13 matches with Purdy teaming up with Samuel and the team averaged 32.3 points per game.

The 49ers' pass rush is a game-winning factor, especially against Detroit, which is typically awful at pass defense. Detroit can rely on Jared Goff to boost the offense, which he's done so far, but intense pressure usually makes Goff commit silly errors and throw interceptions or the WRs drop catches.

With Samuel, this is a certainty for the 49ers, without… it’s likely still a win but very close. We think 49ers win but don’t cover the spread and choose the under.

Where to Bet on the NFL Conference Championship

If you’re ready to make your NFL conference championship picks, then any of the following sites will be your ideal spot to place a wager.

Those are just a few popular recommendations, but you can find out much more on our dedicated page where to bet on the NFL.

Conference Championship Picks & Betting Tips For Player Props

Let’s look at a few player prop bets that are an extra way to earn money when the games begin on Sunday.

Lamar Jackson (Ravens) To Reach Over 65.5 rushing yards (-110)

Jackson's reaction to blitzing from the Texans was highly impressive, and the star QB finished with 100 rushing yards, threw for 120 yards, and had two touchdowns. Although the Chiefs will apply far more pressure to Jackson than Houston, the Ravens' QB has shown that he has another level and can adapt to any attack.

Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs) To Reach Over 14.5 rush attempts (-110)

The Chiefs have relied heavily on Pacheco as a major offensive member during these playoffs, just as the team did in the previous postseason, and he has answered magnificently.

In the last game, Pacheco carried the football 15 times for 97 yards, as well as adding one touchdown. In his past three postseason games, he has exceeded this amount and proved that he's the undisputed number one receiver for a squad that sometimes doesn't trust their WRs during crucial moments. The Ravens' defense is strong, but the Chiefs' running game can find a few weaknesses.

Brock Purdy (49ers) to throw an interception (+106)

Purdy only allowed 11 interceptions this season, but he almost had three interceptions when playing in the divisional round matchup. For the majority of the year, Purdy is among the top throwers in terms of off-target percentage, still there are a few things to look for.

Deebo Samuel, a primary target for the 49ers quarterback, is questionable for Sunday and he's one of Purdy's No. 1 choices in any game. It's too unlikely that Purdy will throw a perfect game as there's too much pressure and uncertainty without Samuel.

Jahmyr Gibbs (Lions) Over 15.5 yards longest rush (-110)

The Detroit youngster is second in the league of getting rushes of at least 15 yards as he's done this 16 times. He's completed this mark in 12/17 games and this is likely to continue, as Gibbs is a born runner and can find space when no one else can.

Gibbs' 31-yard touchdown last week was huge and he's bound to do that again at least once, even if the Lions may not have enough to win it all against the 49ers.

Expert NFL Conference Predictions

We’ll quickly recap our NFL division championship predictions, as these games are incredibly important and the Super Bowl is right around the corner. Just ensure you’re reading How To Bet to find out about the NFL and other major sports.

What Baltimore must do to win: Baltimore has to keep up their fierce defense. This past week, they dominated CJ Stroud, forcing him to finish 7 of 17 passes for 62 yards while under extreme duress. Although they did not pick up any sacks, their determination was sufficient to maintain Stroud under strict control.

Although Mahomes won't be as rattled as a youngster such as Stroud, the QB will need to find far less risky targets if the Ravens pressure Kelce. Kyle Hamilton, the safety for Baltimore, is the one who may guide the Ravens in battle. At 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, he is large enough to match Kelce, and he plays well at the scrimmage. This may well be one of the most intense matchups to watch.

Applying pressure is the greatest strategy to stop Mahomes, and Baltimore has been doing it well this season. Allow Lamar Jackson to be authentic and play his game by giving him free rein. Plus, the Ravens will have to continue drives and ensure they're not losing possession.

What San Francisco must do to win: Choosing the 49ers might not be as safe as the Ravens for the NFL Conference Championship picks, but it’s still the most likely outcome.

Stopping Detroit's great pass rushing game is imperative. Brock Purdy is going to be pressured and looked for the whole game by the Lions defense, but the 49ers usually have got what it takes to allow Purdy to flourish and find his man. San Francisco also needs to watch their soft fouls, as they allow too many penalty yards that can quickly change a game.

Defense must make an impact. Jared Goff is facing a lot of strain, he is a different QB. If Deebo Samuel is restricted offensively or even missing completely, give Christian McCaffrey the football. The 49ers should be able to benefit from Detroit's dubious pass defense.