AFC Championship knowledgeable picks: Patriots vs. Broncos odds, NFL playoffs greatest bets

By Sunday’s finish, a champion of the AFC can be topped and have their ticket punched for Tremendous Bowl LX. The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will sq. off for that proper to advance to Santa Clara to play for the prospect to hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday at Mile Excessive. 

As we do each week all through the season, CBS Sports activities and SportsLine have compiled our consultants’ greatest picks in a single place that approach you will get picks in opposition to the unfold whereas additionally trying out further characteristic content material for every recreation, together with performs from high SportsLine consultants and the SportsLine Projection Mannequin, greatest bets from our workers, and extra.

Follow CBS Sports activities by means of the NFL playoffs as we break down each recreation and storyline by means of probably the most intriguing a part of the season.

Rams vs. Seahawks: NFC Championship knowledgeable picks, odds, NFL playoffs greatest bets, the place to observe, TV, stream

Tyler Sullivan

All NFL odds by way of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Which picks are you able to make with confidence throughout Championship Sunday? And which contenders go down arduous? Go to SportsLine, as its unbelievable mannequin simulates each NFL recreation 10,000 occasions and is up properly over $7,000 for $100 gamers on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Sunday, 3 p.m. ET (CBS | Paramount+)

Pete Prisco’s Patriots vs. Broncos choose

Broncos +5.5: “The New England protection may be stingy, particularly in opposition to the run, which may put extra stress on Payton to scheme up issues to make it simpler for Stidham. I feel Payton is among the greatest play callers within the league, so I feel he’ll.

“On the opposite facet, Drake Maye can be making his first street playoff begin for the Patriots. That may be daunting, particularly in opposition to Denver protection. However Maye has been good on the street this season. Then once more, that is the playoffs.

“The Payments ran on the Broncos final week, so I anticipate the Patriots to attempt to do the identical. New England is averaging 156.1 speeding yards per recreation over the past seven video games, however I feel Denver can be higher this time in opposition to the run.

“It will be straightforward to choose the Pats right here based mostly on Stidham taking part in. However I feel the Denver gamers will elevate their video games round him and Payton may have a giant day calling the sport for him. I feel Denver’s protection will get the perfect of the Pats offense. Denver goes to the Tremendous Bowl.” Choose: Broncos 23, Patriots 21

To see Prisco’s NFC Championship choose, click on right here.

SportsLine’s Bruce Marshall’s Patriots vs. Broncos choose

Look no additional than Marshall that can assist you make your choose for the AFC Championship. The SportsLine knowledgeable has been on a tear along with his NFL picks, proudly owning a 58-38-2 report (+1589) over his final 98 NFL performs. Now, he is turned his consideration to this playoff matchup between New England and Denver. We will let you know Marshall is leaning Over the 42.5 level complete, however to see his official ATS choose, you may must go to SportsLine.

Tyler Sullivan’s Patriots vs. Broncos choose

Patriots -5.5: “Will Stidham rise to the event and pull off what can be a historic upset? I doubt it. One of many underrated developments of those playoffs has been the rise of New England’s protection. As soon as thought to dwell and die by the efficiency of Drake Maye, the Patriots have received back-to-back playoff matchups whilst their MVP-contending quarterback hasn’t performed his greatest wire to wire. That is largely been because of the protection, which is coming off a dominating win over Houston, the place it accounted for 5 turnovers. If the Patriots’ protection makes Stidham’s head spin even half as a lot as they C.J. Stroud’s, they need to punch their ticket to the Tremendous Bowl quite convincingly. Oh, and if you’re involved about New England occurring the street, let’s issue this in: the Patriots have been the one staff within the NFL to boast an ideal 8-0 report on the street this season and have been additionally 7-1 ATS in these contests.” Choose: Patriots 24, Broncos 17

To see Sullivan’s NFC Championship choose, click on right here.

John Breech’s Patriots vs. Broncos choose

Broncos +5.5: “Maye struggled in opposition to probably the greatest defenses within the NFL, and now, he has to as soon as once more play probably the greatest defenses within the NFL, besides this time, he has to go on the street. Maye has taken a beating this postseason (he is been sacked 10 occasions in two video games) and it may worsen this week. He took the fourth-most sacks within the NFL this 12 months and he is dealing with a protection that recorded the FIFTH-MOST sacks in a single season in NFL historical past. I don’t know how the Patriots offensive line goes to cease the Broncos’ pass-rush. 

“When Maye begins taking hits, he tends to fumble the ball. He is fumbled SIX occasions in his two playoff video games and the Patriots have misplaced three of these fumbles. The Broncos are 9-1 this season once they power at the very least one turnover, so one thing so simple as recovering a fumble might be the important thing to pulling off the upset right here. 

“Stidham may solely throw for 103 yards on this recreation, but when he performs mistake-free soccer and would not flip the ball over, Denver may have an opportunity to win.” Choose: Patriots 20, Broncos 17

To see Breech’s NFC Championship choose, click on right here.

Mike McClure’s high DFS for Championship Sunday

If you wish to add some DFS lineups to your Championship Sunday, Mike McClure is the knowledgeable you may need to observe. McClure is a legendary skilled DFS participant with greater than $2 million in profession winnings. In 2023, he received the DraftKings Millionaire Maker twice and the FanDuel Million as soon as. Now, he is eyeing these convention championships and increase rosters to money in. For this AFC Championship, one to McClure’s high DFS picks is Stefon Diggs. To see the remainder of his high performs and lineups, click on over to SportsLine. 

Jared Dubin’s Patriots vs. Broncos choose

Patriots -5.5: “This one is fairly easy: the Broncos is not going to have their beginning quarterback for this recreation. It is actually arduous to see them placing collectively a consultant offensive efficiency with Jarrett Stidham on the helm — particularly given how properly the New England protection has performed to date through the playoffs in holding down offenses piloted by Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud. New England’s offense hasn’t precisely lit the world on fireplace in both of its video games in opposition to elite defenses, and the Broncos current one other one for them to go up in opposition to, however I’ve much more belief in Drake Maye going in opposition to a Denver unit that has really proven some leaks since its bye week, than I do in Stidham and Co. in opposition to the Pats.” Choose: Patriots 21, Broncos 10

To see Dubin’s NFC Championship choose, click on right here.

Jordan Dajani’s Patriots vs. Broncos choose

Patriots -5.5: “Stidham is the seventh quarterback to make his first begin of the season within the playoffs, and solely one of many earlier six really received their recreation. He’s 1-3 as an NFL starter, and it is going to be fascinating to see how Sean Payton alters his recreation plan with Bo Nix out. No matter Stidham’s function on Sunday, there are two issues that should occur if the Broncos need this upset: The run recreation has to reappear and the protection has to dominate. Since J.Ok. Dobbins was injured in Week 10, the Broncos rank backside 10 in speeding yards per recreation and yards per rush. Dobbins has an opportunity to return this week, however I am not banking on him to be an X issue. This Denver protection ranks high three in factors allowed per recreation (18.3), yards allowed per recreation (278.2) and third-down share (33.8%) as properly. Vance Joseph’s unit can positively include Drake Maye, however the Patriots are the one staff with an ideal against-the-spread report (8-0) on the street this season. I consider this can be a detailed recreation till New England lastly covers within the fourth quarter.” Choose: Patriots 20, Broncos 13

To see Dajani’s NFC Championship choose, click on right here.