Super Bowl LVI arrives on February 13 in Los Angeles with its usual fanfare, a good game surrounded by parties everywhere. This year’s event carries an exciting media and entertainment edge, with an Olympics and a highly anticipated halftime show sharing attention with the game. Let’s look at the contenders and who can take home the big prize.
News Highlights
- Rams face Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
- A stellar halftime show is at center stage.
- Contrasting QBs will square off in LA’s SoFi Stadium.
Super Bowl LVI Weekend
There is often more surrounding the Super Bowl than the game itself. This year, besides the clever TV ads and Olympics distractions, there will be a halftime show featuring some of the biggest names in music.
As a sort of tribute to rap music’s roots in LA, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar will be in the all-star halftime show.
Super Bowl LVI Game | When and Where
Then there is the game. The Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, February 13th. The kickoff is set for 6:30 pm in LA’s sparkling new SoFi Stadium, the home field of the Rams.
It is the second straight year that a participant in the Super Bowl has played the game in their home stadium. Last year, the Tampa Bay Bucs topped the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa.
Bengals vs. Rams | Who Has Better Chances of Winning?
The game has high stakes, and no outcome is certain. There are no dynasties here; the franchises together have appeared in the Super Bowl just four times in the event’s 56 years. The Rams won it in 2000 and lost it just three years ago. Neither of the game’s starting quarterbacks has ever played in the Super Bowl. So, who has better chances this weekend?
Cincinnati Bengals (13-7)
The Bengals came from nowhere to make it here. They were 150-1 to win it all when the season started. But as the usual dominant teams in their AFC North division – the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens – fell to the wayside, the Bengals rose to the top despite seven losses.
They then beat a couple of average teams in the playoffs before coming from behind to stun the Super Bowl contending Chiefs in Kansas City. They did it all on the big arm of young quarterback Joe Burrow, who threw for 4,611 yards and led the league in pass completion percentage.
The Bengals have been developing an excellent run-pass threat in Joe Mixon. But their real weapons are Burrow’s targets, Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tyler Boyd. Of note, tight end C.J. Uzomah limped out of the KC game with a knee injury, and his status is currently uncertain.
Bengals Defense
The Bengals defense ranked 13th in the league but has held teams to under 20 twice in playoffs.
Los Angeles Rams (15-5)
LA Rams survived arguably the toughest division in the league. In the playoffs, they had to overcome two of those NFC West rivals, Arizona and San Francisco. They also topped the defending Super Bowl champs.
Much of it was because of a veteran QB still trying to prove himself: Matthew Stafford. After struggling for 12 years in woeful Detroit, Stafford has come to LA and been the key to putting the Rams at the top. He threw for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns, setting franchise records for pass completions and yards.
His primary receivers are Cooper Kupp, the league leader in yards and catches, and Justin Jefferson, who ranked among the top four in those categories. The third weapon is Odell Beckham, Jr., who has emerged in the playoffs. They lost their tight end, Tyler Higbee, to a knee injury in the NFC title game, and coaches know when he’ll be back.
LA Rams Defense
The Rams defense ranked 15th in the league, but they have two top pass rushers in Von Miller and Aaron Donald.
Who Should You Bet On?
The line sits at Rams -4, which we like because we think the Rams are the better team here. Burrow has been under the rush all year, sacked 51 times in the regular season, and 11 times in the playoffs. Miller and Donald will give him problems. The Rams seem to have more weapons, with Kupp, Jefferson, and Beckham as threats all over the field.
Then there are intangibles. The Rams seem like they belong. They have been contending in recent years, and many of their players were on their Super Bowl team three years ago. The Bengals have to be in a bit of a dream world.
We also favor the over 49.5 points for the total, with two good quarterbacks and teams not known for the run game. Plus, the two teams have combined this year to average 54.2 points per game. Study the props for Mixon and Beckham, too. We like Mixon to go over the 26.5 receiving yards, which he surpassed in his last five games. Beckham will help take the pressure off of Kupp and Jefferson with more than 5.5 receptions.
Place Your Bets and Enjoy The Super Bowl Weekend!
This version of the Super Bowl should spell fun from start to finish, with a spicy halftime show to go with your chips and dips. So make your bets, take in the game, the parties, the entertainment, and have a super Sunday!
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