Two former Wisconsin Badgers advance to the NFL Conference Championships

Two former Wisconsin Badgers advance to the NFL Conference Championships

NFL Divisional Round weekend ended with a thriller last night, as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills (again) thanks to Buffalo missing a field goal to the right (sounds familiar).

The weekend saw the Ravens handle the Texans easily, the 49ers squeak by the Packers, the Lions defeat the Buccaneers to advance to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991 and the aforementioned Chiefs win over the Bills.

In total, four Wisconsin products were in action: Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale, Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler, Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal and Bills lineman David Edwards.

Given the Ravens and Chiefs win, Chenal and Zeitler are the two former Wisconsin Badgers to advance to the NFL Conference Championships.

The 5 best prop bets for Conference Championships

The five best NFL player prop bets to make for the conference title games.

We’re closing in determining who will play in this year’s Super Bowl, and we have selected five prop bets for players who will be critical to getting their teams to the final game of the season. We take three tight ends we’re expecting big things from, a quarterback whose Over/Under may be a bit too high, and an underappreciated running back who has earned his stripes this season.

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Fantasy football injury report: Conference Championships

Latest status of fantasy football weapons who are on the mend entering the Conference Championships.

This is a team-by-team review of any key fantasy football player injury news after this week’s practice activity and team statements. Only those players listed on the team’s official injury report will be addressed, unless the situation warrants further attention.

PLEASE NOTE: The NFL releases their final official injury report late on Friday (after 5:00 p.m. ET). Teams on the West Coast often report their injuries late and may not be included in the initial publication.

Conference Championships fantasy football injury report

This week’s key game-time decisions: WR Mecole Hardman, RB Elijah Mitchell

CINCINNATI BENGALS 
OG Alex Cappa (ankle) and LT Jonah Williams (knee) have been ruled out again. TE Hayden Hurst (calf) was a full-go in Friday’s session and avoided an injury tag.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) was limited all week and is questionable. QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) and RB Jerick McKinnon (ankle) escaped being slapped with injury tags after three straight full showings. TE Travis Kelce (back) was added Friday as a full participant but still drew a questionable designation. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) avoided an injury label.

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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
RT Lane Johnson (groin, rest) received some rest time this week and was fully available in Friday’s session to avoid an injury label.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) didn’t practice all week and is out. WR Deebo Samuel (ankle) and RB Christian McCaffrey (calf) are not on the injury report after fully practicing Friday. RB Elijah Mitchell (groin) will be a game-time decision and is questionable after failing to practice all week.

NFL Picks: Office pool pick’em – Conference Championships

Use our staff’s weekly pick’em against the spread and straight up for the win.

The Huddle staff makes its weekly NFL game picks every Thursday.

NFL picks are provided for straight up (moneyline) and against the spread (ATS) NFL pick pools.

Each week’s spread picks are graded by the line as of when the person entered their picks. This will create situations in which a movement of the line can result in two participants having the correct pick but with different teams chosen during an individual game.

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

NFL Conference Championship picks: moneyline & against the spread


Season-to-date rankings: moneyline


Season-to-date rankings: ATS


NFL all-time picks leaderboard: moneyline

Straight Up DMD SG KP HS CC CJB HCG
2021 Record 167-104-1 159-112-1 179-92-1 176-95-1 175-96-1 176-95-1 174-97-1
2020 Record 161-94-1 161-94-1 165-90-1 164-91-1 174-81-1 166-89-1 172-83-1
2019 Record 162-93-1 156-99-1 161-94-1 161-94-1 164-91-1 157-98-1 163-92-1
2018 Record 167-87-2 158-96-2 179-75-2 153-101-2 165-89-2 157-97-2 n/a
2017 Record 168-88 161-95 171-85 165-91 180-76 160-96 n/a
2016 Record 157-97-2 149-105-2 156-98-2 152-102-2 156-98-2 139-115-2 n/a
2015 Record 154-102 137-119 156-100 155-101 165-91 n/a n/a
2014 Record 166-89-1 158-97-1 164-91-1 163-92-1 177-78-1 n/a n/a
2013 Record 163-92-1 160-95-1 170-85-1 153-102-1 n/a n/a n/a
Accuracy entering 2022 1,465-846-9
(63.1%)
1,399-912-9
(60.3%)
1,501-801-9
(64.7%)
1,442-869-9
(62.2%)
1,356-700-8
(65.7%)
955-590-7
(61.5%)
509-272-3
(64.9%)

NFL all-time picks leaderboard: ATS

ATS DMD SG KP HS CC CJB HCG
2021 Record 141-130-1 142-129-1 154-117-1 136-135-1 152-119-1 143-128-1 151-120-1
2020 Record 118-138 122-134 123-133 129-127 130-126 143-113 130-126
2019 Record 121-135 133-123 133-123 139-117 121-135 137-119 139-117
2018 Record 132-124 131-125 145-111 133-123 132-124 130-126 n/a
2017 Record 129-127 136-120 135-121 132-124 136-120 131-125 n/a
2016 Record 110-146 125-131 127-129 124-132 132-124 127-129 n/a
2015 Record 125-131 121-135 126-130 123-133 141-115 n/a n/a
2014 Record 122-134 124-132 143-113 132-124 123-133 n/a n/a
2013 Record 115-136-5 119-132-5 117-134-5 117-134-5 n/a n/a n/a
Accuracy entering 2022 1,113-1,201-6
(48.1%)
1,153-1,161-6
(50.7%)
1,203-1,111-6
(51.9%)
1,165-1,149-6
(50.2%)
1,067-996-1
(51.7%)
811-740-1
(52.3%)
420-363-1
(54.1%)

DMD – David Dorey, SG – Steve Gallo, KP – Ken Pomponio, HS – Harley Schultz, CC – Cletis Cutts, CJB – Cory Bonini, HCG – HC Green


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The 4 best bets for the NFL Conference Championship Games

A four-pack of wagers to make ahead of the NFL’s conference title games.

And then there were four.

As we reach the NFL conference championship games, a solid case can be made that the best four teams remain. The Cincinnati Bengals are riding a 10-game winning streak, the Kansas City Chiefs have won 11 of their last 12 games (the only loss to the Bengals), the San Francisco 49ers have won 12 straight, and the Philadelphia Eagles have won 15 of 18 games this season.

Something has to give, and we have four betting options for you to consider.

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

The Huddle’s Blitzed Fantasy Football Podcast: Episode 167

Fantasy football news, advice, and DFS recommendations for the conference championships.

In this episode, Steve and Harley bring you B.P.N. NFL news, and Conference Championship “DFS Pay-ups, Stay-aways and Value Plays.” So Huddle up, tune in, and get Blitzed!

Or, click here to listen

Playoff draft rankings: Conference Championship Round

Draft-and-hold rankings plus an ordered list for players battling for a Super Bowl berth.

(Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports)

Conference championship schedule

Sunday, Jan. 19

Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs (3:05 p.m. EST)
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (6:40 p.m. EST)

Playoff draft-and-hold rankings

(Based on performance PPR scoring)

Quarterbacks

Rk
Player
Team
1
Patrick Mahomes
KC
2
Aaron Rodgers
GB
3
Jimmy Garoppolo
SF
4
Ryan Tannehill
TEN

Running backs

Rk
Player
Team
1
Aaron Jones
GB
2
Damien Williams
KC
3
Derrick Henry
TEN
4
Tevin Coleman
SF
5
Raheem Mostert
SF
6
Jamaal Williams
GB
7
Kyle Juszczyk
SF
8
Tyler Ervin
GB
9
Darwin Thompson
KC
10
Dion Lewis
TEN
11
Matt Breida
SF
12
Khari Blasingame
TEN
13
LeSean McCoy
KC
14
Dan Vitale (INJ)
GB
15
Dalyn Dawkins
TEN

Wide receivers

Rk
Player
Team
1
Tyreek Hill
KC
2
Davante Adams
GB
3
Deebo Samuel
SF
4
A.J. Brown
TEN
5
Emmanuel Sanders
SF
6
Mecole Hardman
KC
7
Kendrick Bourne
SF
8
Sammy Watkins
KC
9
Corey Davis
TEN
10
Tajae Sharpe
TEN
11
Geronimo Allison
GB
12
Allen Lazard (INJ)
GB
13
Demarcus Robinson
KC
14
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
GB
15
Jake Kumerow
GB
16
Kalif Raymond
TEN
17
Byron Pringle
KC
18
Richie James
SF
19
Adam Humphries (INJ)
TEN

Tight ends

Rk
Player
Team
1
Travis Kelce
KC
2
George Kittle
SF
3
Jimmy Graham
GB
4
Jonnu Smith
TEN
5
Ross Dwelley
SF
6
Marcedes Lewis
GB
7
Blake Bell
KC
8
Robert Tonyan
GB

Place kickers

Rk
Player
Team
1
Harrison Butker
KC
2
Mason Crosby
GB
3
Robbie Gould
SF
4
Greg Joseph
TEN

Defensive teams

Rk
Team
1
Green Bay Packers
2
Kansas City Chiefs
3
San Francisco 49ers
4
Tennessee Titans

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Conference championship weekly rankings

(Based on performance PPR scoring)

Quarterbacks

Rk
Player
Team
Opp
1
Patrick Mahomes
KC
TEN
2
Jimmy Garoppolo
SF
GB
3
Aaron Rodgers
GB
@SF
4
Ryan Tannehill
TEN
@KC

Running backs

Rk
Player
Team
Opp
1
Derrick Henry
TEN
@KC
2
Tevin Coleman
SF
GB
3
Aaron Jones
GB
@SF
4
Damien Williams
KC
TEN
5
Raheem Mostert
SF
GB
6
Kyle Juszczyk
SF
GB
7
Jamaal Williams
GB
@SF
8
Tyler Ervin
GB
@SF
9
Darwin Thompson
KC
TEN
10
Dion Lewis
TEN
@KC
11
Matt Breida
SF
GB
12
Khari Blasingame
TEN
@KC
13
LeSean McCoy
KC
TEN
14
Dan Vitale (INJ)
GB
@SF
15
Dalyn Dawkins
TEN
@KC

Wide receivers

Rk
Player
Team
Opp
1
Tyreek Hill
KC
TEN
2
Deebo Samuel
SF
GB
3
A.J. Brown
TEN
@KC
4
Davante Adams
GB
@SF
5
Emmanuel Sanders
SF
GB
6
Mecole Hardman
KC
TEN
7
Kendrick Bourne
SF
GB
8
Sammy Watkins
KC
TEN
9
Corey Davis
TEN
@KC
10
Tajae Sharpe
TEN
@KC
11
Geronimo Allison
GB
@SF
12
Allen Lazard (INJ)
GB
@SF
13
Demarcus Robinson
KC
TEN
14
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
GB
@SF
15
Jake Kumerow
GB
@SF
16
Kalif Raymond
TEN
@KC
17
Byron Pringle
KC
TEN
18
Richie James
SF
GB
19
Adam Humphries (INJ)
TEN
@KC

Tight ends

Rk
Player
Team
Opp
1
Travis Kelce
KC
TEN
2
George Kittle
SF
GB
3
Jonnu Smith
TEN
@KC
3
Jimmy Graham
GB
@SF
4
Ross Dwelley
SF
GB
5
Marcedes Lewis
GB
@SF
6
Blake Bell
KC
TEN
7
Robert Tonyan
GB
@SF

Place kickers

Rk
Player
Team
Opp
1
Harrison Butker
KC
TEN
2
Robbie Gould
SF
GB
3
Mason Crosby
GB
@SF
4
Greg Joseph
TEN
@KC

Defensive teams

Rk
Team
Opp
1
Green Bay Packers
@SF
2
Kansas City Chiefs
TEN
3
San Francisco 49ers
GB
4
Tennessee Titans
@KC

NFL conference championship round coaches ranked

All four NFL conference championship coaches deserve credit for getting their team to this point. Kyle Shanahan turned around the Niners after finally getting his franchise quarterback in place and a defense built to carry the team. Andy Reid has …

All four NFL conference championship coaches deserve credit for getting their team to this point. Kyle Shanahan turned around the Niners after finally getting his franchise quarterback in place and a defense built to carry the team. Andy Reid has been a staple in the playoffs for most of his career. Matt LaFleur and Mike Vrabel are young, up-and-coming coaches who led their teams to heights few predicted in 2019. So let’s do the obvious thing and rank them.