One way or another, a Super Bowl championship drought ends Sunday evening.
The Los Angeles Rams seek the franchise’s first Super Bowl title since lifting the Lombardi Trophy in 2000. Coming to the Rams’ home turf of SoFi Stadium, the Cincinnati Bengals make their third appearance in the big game. They have gone 0-2. Now, the overlooked Bengals have their sights set on the team’s first NFL championship since coming into existence in 1967.
The BetMGM Super Bowl promo of a bonus $50 plus up to a $1,000 First Bet Offer stands to make the Big Game even more exciting.
$1,500
BetMGM Super Bowl promo code ‘PLAYNY‘ details
The BetMGM Super Bowl 56 promo is available for a limited time only. Get a $50 bonus on sign up and receive a First Bet Offer of up to $1,000.
You must deposit and wager your own money to claim up to $1,000 First Bet Offer and then you will also get the $50 bonus bet. If the you use the $50 bonus bet first, you won’t be eligible for the $1,000 First Bet Offer.
To claim this offer, click here and use bonus code PLAYBONUS50
How does BetMGM view Super Bowl 56?
After 54 straight years of a team not advancing to the Super Bowl in its home stadium, we get that occurrence for the second consecutive season.
And home teams in the Super Bowl are 1-0, not that it means much, really. Still, BetMGM sportsbook likes Los Angeles to protect its house in something of an offensive shootout, considering the over/under total. When listed as moneyline favorites, the Rams have won 12 times in 17 games. On the flip side, though, Cincinnati has gone 7-4 when entering as the underdog.
Individually, BetMGM set the over/under on Stafford passing yards at 284.5, a figure nearly 20 yards less than the 301 he averages during the playoffs. As for Burrow, his line sits at 281.5, so an aerial attack is what the sportsbook expects.
That becomes even more prominent when you consider potential Super Bowl rushing props. No Super Bowl has featured a final rushing total of less than 75 yards since 2014.
Breaking down Super Bowl LVI matchup
Offensively, the Rams ranked in the top 10 during the season in points (27.1) and yards per game (372.1). Led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles also features the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in Cooper Kupp, who has racked up 128.7 yards per game and four touchdowns in the playoffs alone.
It’s the LA defense that could prove key, however. While Joe Burrow has shined during the postseason for Cincinnati, extending plays and leading upsets throughout the playoffs, Joe Mixon provides an explosive burst out of the backfield.
After finishing third during the regular season with over 1,200 rushing yards, Mixon ranks first among postseason running backs with 190 rushing yards in three games.
If Aaron Donald and Von Miller can help the Rams shut down the rushing attack, Jalen Ramsey and company can have their way with Cincy’s receivers. Plus, consider that Cincinnati has given up the third-most sacks in the NFL this year, a potentially scary situation when you factor in that Los Angeles ranked third in the league with 49 sacks.
Yet the Bengals have a playmaker on the outside in Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase. Chase set the Bengals’ single-season franchise records for receiving yards this year, headlined by a record-breaking 266-yard performance against the Chiefs in Week 17.
Wide receiver showdown: Kupp vs. Chase
While the pressure will certainly rest on the shoulders of both defenses, with some spotlight on the quarterback matchup, it’s the receiving head-to-head that intrigues. Offensive Player of the Year vs. Offensive Rookie of the Year.
BetMGM lists Kupp’s over/under at 104.5 receiving yards, compared with Chase’s line of 78.5. Kupp has gashed secondaries throughout the season, posting 13 games of over 100 yards during the regular season and playoffs. In fact, only twice did Kupp fail to exceed 90 yards receiving.
As for Chase, he has shown flashes of absolute dominance as well as moments of let-down. While he can erupt for 200-yard performances, which he did twice this season, Chase also tied for first for dropped passes. The secondary of the Rams will most certainly focus on the rookie, potentially creating holes for other Cincy receivers to step up, as Tee Higgins did in the AFC Championship and as CJ Uzomah showed in the first two games of the playoffs.
Super Bowl MVP watch
While not available in the most prominent legal sports betting market (New York), the Super Bowl MVP prop stands as one of the most popular selections among sportsbooks.
For BetMGM, the expectation is a quarterback claims the award for the sixth time in eight years. Stafford and Burrow sit as favorites at +140 and +225, respectively.
Then again, perhaps Kupp can end a stellar season in stellar fashion. At +600, Kupp could streak his way to the MVP to become the eighth wide receiver to win the MVP and just the third since 2006. Chase is also in the mix, his +1,600 line ranking fifth at BetMGM.
In fourth position, Aaron Donald, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, could make a case for the game’s top award. If he does, not only will his +1,200 line cash out, but he will also become just the second defensive tackle to accomplish the feat. Randy White shared the award with Dallas Cowboys teammate Harvey Martin in 1978.
