For just the second time in NFL history, a team will play a Super Bowl in its home stadium. The Los Angeles Rams play their home games at SoFi Stadium, but they'll technically be the visitors when they take the field against the Cincinnati Bengals at the 2022 Super Bowl on Sunday. The Rams have won eight of their last nine games, while the Bengals have won six of their last seven. Will the Bengals claim their first Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl 56, or will the Rams hoist the trophy in their home stadium?
What time is the Super Bowl? Kickoff for Super Bowl 56 is at 6:30 p.m. ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Rams as 4.5-point favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 48.5 in the latest Rams vs. Bengals odds. Before you make any Rams vs. Bengals bets or Super Bowl 56 predictions, make sure you check out what SportsLine's resident Rams expert, Larry Hartstein, has to say.
A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. This season he has been on fire. Hartstein is 74-49-1 with his last 124 sides, for a profit of more than $1,700.
In addition, Hartstein has gone an astounding 29-17 on his last 46 NFL picks involving Los Angeles returning $966 to $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Hartstein has zoned in on Rams vs. Bengals and revealed his Super Bowl 56 picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Hartstein's Super Bowl picks. Here are the NFL odds and trends for Bengals vs. Rams:
- Rams vs. Bengals spread: Los Angeles -4.5
- Rams vs. Bengals over-under: 48.5 points
- Rams vs. Bengals money line: Los Angeles -200, Cincinnati +170
- LAR: Rams are 10-10 against the spread this season
- CIN: Bengals are 13-7 against the spread this season
Why the Rams can cover
Los Angeles is often heralded for its high-flying offense, but the Rams' defense has been stellar in the 2022 NFL playoffs. In fact, the Rams have given up 17 points or fewer in two of their last three games. In the 20-17 victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Los Angeles held San Francisco to just 50 rushing yards. In addition, the Rams have given up 61 rushing yards or fewer in all three of their playoff victories.
Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey are the big-name playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Since joining the Rams in the middle of the season, Miller has recorded seven sacks and two forced fumbles. Donald, meanwhile, finished the regular season with 12.5 sacks, which ranked seventh in the NFL. Donald and Miller will be licking their chops to dominate Cincinnati's offensive line, which gave up nine sacks against the Titans earlier in the postseason.
Why the Bengals can cover
Joe Burrow is a top-tier quarterback, finishing near the top of the NFL in passing yards, passer rating, yards per pass attempt and completion rate. Burrow has an elite trio of wide receivers as well, with Ja'Marr Chase experiencing an all-time rookie season. Chase finished in the top four in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and yards per carry, and his speed is unquestionably elite.
The running game is keyed by a top-five running back in Joe Mixon, who rushed for 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. All told, the Bengals averaged 27.1 points per game, a top-eight figure, and led the NFL in yards per pass attempt at 8.7. Cincinnati is capable of explosive plays, including 16 throws of 40-plus yards, and don't beat themselves. The Bengals lead the NFL in penalty yards with only 620, and were second-best in penalties (72) during the regular season.
How to make Bengals vs. Rams picks
For Super Bowl 56 matchup, Hartstein is leaning under on the point total, but he's also discovered 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 Super Bowl 56 spread to back, at SportsLine.
So, who wins Rams vs. Bengals in the Super Bowl 2022? And which side of the 2022 Super Bowl 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 29-17 on NFL picks involving Los Angeles, and find out.
