NFL Futures Bets: NFC Conference Champion Odds Tracker
Some of the best NFC teams have bolstered up their rosters this offseason. This includes the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whose offseasons only maintained their status as the two teams in the NFC heading into 2022 with the best chances of winning the NFC Conference Championship. After all, these two teams are the last two Super Bowl winners. Now, let’s take a look at why the Los Angeles Rams will ultimately win the NFC title over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
*Please Note: All odds are via Caesars and were accurate as of 2:00 PM EST. on August 24*
NFC Conference Championship Odds
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +345
- Green Bay Packers +450
- Los Angeles Rams +500
- San Francisco 49ers +750
- Dallas Cowboys +874
- Philadelphia Eagles +1300
- New Orleans Saints +1749
- Minnesota Vikings +1749
- Arizona Cardinals +1749
- Washington Commanders +3500
- Carolina Panthers +5000
- Detroit Lions +5000
- New York Giants +5000
- Chicago Bears +6000
- Seattle Seahawks +8000
- Atlanta Falcons +10000
Check out the top legal online sportsbook offers and promotions in the United States!
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs. Los Angeles Rams Preview
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Analysis
After announcing his retirement at the end of last season, QB Tom Brady changed his mind 40 days later and decided to come back for at least another season. The Buccaneers were defeated 30-27 by the Rams in last year’s NFC Divisional Round. In this nail-biter of a game, Tampa Bay fell short and was somewhat unlucky with their draw due to seeding in the 2021 NFC postseason bracket. Many would contend that the Rams and the Bucs could have met in the 2021 NFC Conference game if the first-seeded Green Bay Packers didn’t match up against the sixth-seeded 49ers.
Though the Buccaneers fell short of another Super Bowl run in 2021, the team has gotten much stronger this offseason. Though TE Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the game, many believe there is a good chance he comes back to play another year with Tom Brady this season. Though the Buccaneers’ shallowest depth at any offensive position heading into 2022 is tight end, Tampa Bay added veteran TE Kyle Rudolph to their roster. Besides potential weaknesses at tight end, the Bucs have one of the strongest receiving corps in football heading into this season. Not only are WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin returning healthy this season, but veteran WR Julio Jones was also acquired by the Bucs this offseason and has reportedly been turning heads at training camp. At 33 years old, Julio is reportedly playing in 2019-like form. If their passing game is off, the Buccs can always count on power-back Leonard Fournette, who had an excellent regular-season and postseason for Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay competes in the NFC South, which heading into 2022 looks like one of the weaker divisions in football. While Tampa could split games with New Orleans this season, they should sweep their regular season games against the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons. They should easily win the NFC South and potentially earn a first-round bye in the 2022 NFL postseason. This should put them in a good position to reach the NFC Championship game in 2022. In addition, expect at least one more year of postseason magic from Mr. Tom Brady, who had a better season at 44 years of age in 2021, than he did at 43 years old in 2020. Will he play even better at 45? He very well could.
Heading into 2022, the Buccaneers have the seventh-easiest regular-season schedule according to Sharp Football Analytics. Through Week 10, the Bucs do not have a bye week. Tampa Bay’s three hardest matchups in their first 10 games of the season include back-to-back road games in Week 3 (at Green Bay) and Week 4 (at Kansas City) and a Week 9 visit to the Los Angeles Rams. Besides that, Tampa could have a tough Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. On paper, Tampa should be 8-2 at the worst through their first 10 games of the 2022 season. It’s smooth sailing for Tampa Bay until a Week 15 matchup against the Bengals at home and a Week 16 Christmas day game against the Cardinals on the road. Taking into consideration their relatively easy schedule in 2022, the Buccaneers have a very good chance of representing the NFC in the Super Bowl. That’s why they have the shortest odds according to Caesar's Sportsbook. Start making money at Caesars Sportsbook today! The Los Angeles Rams came up big in last year's NFC Divisional Round matchup against the Tampa Bay Bucs, clinching a three-point win to bring them to the NFC Conference Championship Round. The Rams would go on to win the NFC Conference title over the San Francisco 49ers and eventually the Super Bowl against the young and red-hot Cincinnati Bengals. Last season, Rams receiver Cooper Kupp had one of the best offensive seasons of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was just four receptions short of tying the all-time single-season reception record. Kupp finished the season averaging 114.5 yards per game for 1,947 total receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. He was crucial to the Rams in their postseason victory over the Bucs where he had nine catches for 183 yards and one touchdown. He then had two touchdowns and 142 yards against the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, followed by 92 yards and two touchdowns in their Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Kupp is the most important offensive weapon on the team, and perhaps the main reason why Matthew Stafford finally got a ring in his first season with the Rams.
While Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl and won’t be ready to go when the season gets going, the Rams strengthened their receiving corps by adding veteran route-runner Allen Robinson to the mix. The top-three receivers heading into this season for Los Angeles are Kupp, Robinson, and Van Jefferson, who are all expected to be fully healthy heading into Week 1. In turn, the Rams will have to wait to get OBJ back. If he does return to full strength, imagine having him as an option for Stafford in addition to the healthy pass catchers. The Rams also have a solid running back in Cam Akers. While he struggled in the playoffs, Akers is a strong young running back who can generate solid yardage for the team throughout the season. Though he missed most of the last regular season, Akers averaged 4.3 yards per attempt in his rookie season for 625 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. He also had 11 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown catch that season. Still, the Rams could add some depth at this position, which is their weakest. At tight end, the Rams have Tyler Higbee, who had another great season for the Rams despite the high volume of targets Stafford sends to his wide receivers. Another potential concern for the Rams is that they have one of the most challenging schedules in the NFL this regular season. According to Sharp Football Analytics, the Rams have the second-most challenging regular-season schedule of all NFL teams this season. Los Angeles opens up the season at home against the AFC powerhouse Buffalo Bills. They then visit the Cardinals in Week 3, the 49ers in Week 4 (On Monday Night Football), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 after hosting the 49ers in Week 8. In the second half of the season, the Rams will face the Saints in New Orleans in Week 10, and then the Chiefs in Week 11 at Arrowhead. In December, the Rams host the Raiders, visit the Packers and visit the Chargers. They have one of the most challenging schedules in football, and this makes sense after such a dominant Super Bowl run in 2021. While they should be the favorites in most of their regular-season games, the Rams have very little room for error against such formidable opponents. Learn more about our fantasy football tools and products! The Los Angeles Rams will defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite longer odds. If the two teams play again, the Rams have the stronger offense. The main issue for the Rams will be getting through their tough regular season, and getting decisive wins against other strong teams in the division. While the Buccaneers have a much easier regular season ahead of them and could potentially earn a higher seed than Los Angeles by Week 18, the Rams have more depth all-around if the two were to meet in the NFC Championship. On paper, the Rams have everything they need to make a second consecutive trip to Super Bowl 57. Fantasy SP has worked diligently to bring you next-level sports betting analytics, prop betting tools, public betting splits, and so much more! Become an Edge+ member today before the price doubles!Los Angeles Rams Analysis
NFC Conference Champion Futures Bet Prediction: Los Angeles Rams +500