NFL conference championship betting has sportsbooks rooting for a Chiefs-Eagles rematch

If one sportsbook gets the Super Bowl of its choice this year, we’ll be seeing a rematch of the 2023 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Chiefs and Eagles are each favored in their conference championship games on Sunday, and the public is fading each, instead pouring a bunch of money into the underdog Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders.\

Even as a large six-point road dog in the NFC championship, the Commanders have received 84% of bets and 62% of handle on the moneyline at BetMGM. The splits aren’t quite as lopsided for the AFC championship but still heavily favor the Bills over the Chiefs at 72% of bets and 60% of handle.

“The sportsbook is hoping for a Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl; the public is all over the underdogs to win and this matchup would generate great action,” BetMGM trading manager Christian Cipollini said in an email.

If bettors like the Commanders and Bills to win, they obviously like them to cover too, and betting on the spread also reflects that, though it’s at least a little closer. For the NFC championship, 61% of bets and 55% of handle is on a Commanders cover. In the AFC, 63% of bets and 79% of handle is on the Bills.

In rooting against Buffalo, the sportsbook is also rooting against Josh Allen, who is the most-bet player to score a touchdown in Bills-Chiefs. Saquon Barkley is the most-bet player on the NFC side. BetMGM also needs the under to cash, as bettors have hammered the over, especially in the AFC where 67% of bets and 89% of money has the game eclipsing 48.5 points.