Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl 2022 First Half Spread Prediction: Expect the Rams to Start Strong
Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl 2022 First Half Spread Prediction: Expect the Rams to Start Strong
Nothing is more gratifying in sports betting than cashing an early winning ticket. This can happen in various ways, like backing an over in a game that gets off to a blistering start. However, the more conventional method is to place a bet on the first quarter or first half point spread or total.
We are here to make you some early money on Super Bowl Sunday with our best bet on the first half point spread in the matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams.
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SUPER BOWL LVI FIRST HALF SPREAD PREDICTION
Plenty of Cincinnati Bengals fans will gobble up tickets to see their team make their first Super Bowl appearance since the 1988-89 season. However, there is no denying the Los Angeles Rams have an advantage playing this game in the comfort of their own SoFi Stadium. As such, there is not likely to be as much of an adjustment period getting used to the locker rooms, the field, and the overall atmosphere, which means we expect the Rams to get out to a fast start.
Los Angeles has won the first quarter in five of their last six games at SoFi Stadium. And though they trailed 10-7 at halftime of the NFC Championship game against the 49ers, San Francisco's familiarity with Los Angeles as division rivals meeting for the third time likely had a big part in that.
In their other two playoff games, the Rams have gotten off to blistering starts while playing both games in vastly different ways. Los Angeles had a combined halftime lead of 41-3, using completely different offensive philosophies week-to-week. Against Arizona, they had a first-half rush percentage of 66% and rushed for 94 yards. Against Tampa Bay, they rushed 30% and ran for 31 yards in the first half but offset that with 219 passing yards.
On the other hand, Cincinnati has tended to be a conservative offense early in games. The Bengals ranked 29th in DVOA offensively in the first quarter this season. In their last couple of playoff games, Cincinnati has attempted to establish the run early and often with Joe Mixon. As a result, it has led to many stalled drives and punts, and the team has scored just one touchdown in the first half in their last two games combined.
The Rams are the best defense Cincinnati has faced in their playoff run and are arguably the best defense they have faced all season. Unfortunately, there is no way to replicate what Los Angeles' pass rush can do, especially up the middle with Aaron Donald and on the outside with Von Miller. As a result, it will likely take the Bengals a couple of drives to make the necessary adjustments. However, they are also likely to be trailing when things start to click.
Cincinnati has been a second-half team of late, as they have won the second half in nine of their last ten games as underdogs. So while they will make things close late, there are plenty of reasons to expect the Rams to start fast and have at least a field goal lead at halftime.
SUPER BOWL 2022 FIRST HALF SPREAD PICK
- Rams -3 (+100) (Bet $100 to Win $100)
*Odds Available at Fanduel at Time of Publishing*
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