Super Bowl LVI Pick
LA Rams (-4) vs. Cincinnati
The prevailing mode of thinking about this game is that the Bengals are the sentimental pick, but the Rams are the smart pick. And, sure, OK, there’s more than a little bit of truth to be found there. Certainly, the Bengals have that scrappy underdog quality that everyone likes. (I remember the Rams playing a Super Bowl against team that had that kind of energy some several years back. But I seem to recall that those Rams were much more heavily favored than the current squad.) And the Rams are probably the better team if you step back and compare point by point, matchup by matchup. There’s little question but that while both teams can put up points, the Rams come in with the more complete defense. That should be enough to get the job done. Thing is, though, it’s not that clear cut. Cincinnati actually can win this game. They’re in it for a reason. The Bengals have a tendency to play up to the level of their opponents. More important, they’ve played their best football in the postseason. That still doesn’t make the Bengals the better team here. The Rams still have the edge. But I don’t see this as the “probably close through the first half” affair most seem to be expecting. I mean, it could be a blowout. If the Cincinnati secondary doesn’t play its best football all evening long, things may fall apart for the Bengals well before halftime. But I suspect we’re looking at a competitive game right down to the finish. That would make it either team’s game. And there’s just something about this Cincy squad. So with nothing real at risk, I’ll go out on a limb and pick the Bengals to put up the winning score in the final minute of regulation. Cincinnati by a point.
