The two Super Bowl combatants will be determined on Sunday as the NFL betting world turns to the NFC and AFC Championship Games. 

Sunday’s schedule begins with the AFC Championship Game (3 p.m., CBS) as the No. 1 overall seed Baltimore Ravens play host to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Swifties. The Chiefs rolled through Buffalo in the Divisional Round. It was Mahomes' first road playoff game that wasn’t a Super Bowl.  

The Ravens opened as 3.5-point favorites before the line was quickly bet down to 3. The total is 44.5 points. The Chiefs are 0-1 against the Ravens in the postseason. But that lone loss came 14 years ago. 

RELATED: Super Bowl 58 Odds

The NFC Championship Game will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It features the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. The No. 1 seed 49ers held off the Packers in the Divisional Round. The Detroit Lions stopped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from reaching their first championship game since 1992. The 49ers, meanwhile, haven’t won a Super Bowl in 30 years. 

The 49ers opened as 7-point favorites before that line was pushed down to 6.5 with extra juice on Sunday night. The total moved from 50.5 to 51. 

NFL 2024 AFC & NFC Championship Game Picks

Now it’s on to our 2024 AFC and NFC Championship Game NFL picks to back on your favorite sports betting app.

Sunday, January 28

AFC Championship Game Best Bets

(3) Kansas City Chiefs at (1) Baltimore Ravens, 3 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: First, let’s deal with the most important issue at hand. Yes, Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce are expected to be in attendance on Sunday. At least one will keep their shirt on. And yes, Swift will be able to attend the Super Bowl (as a fan, of course). She has a concert in Tokyo on Saturday, Feb. 10. Given the time-gain she would earn flying from Tokyo to Las Vegas, she could arrive in Sin City with plenty of time to spare to rest up and get to Allegiant Stadium. The Shield will do whatever it can within its powers to make sure that happens. Bettors, beware. We backed Patrick Mahomes on the road against a depleted Bills defense. We did not expect the ghost of Scott Norwood to make an appearance. The Ravens have the anti-Norwood in kicker Justin Tucker. The Ravens are rolling on both sides of the ball. The Chiefs are here because of their defense, and the mystical power of the Swifties. Mahomes has found a reliable target in Rashee Rice (who was banged up Sunday), in addition to Maauto. Mahomes is 10-2-1 ATS and 9-4 straight up as an underdog. And he’s won 13 of his 14 postseason/Super Bowl games against teams NOT led by Tom Brady. Weather is always a concern in January in Maryland. Rain and winds are in the forecast. The Chiefs will be able to contain Lamar Jackson and force him to stay in the pocket. This one has "Instant Classic" in the storyline. But it's hard to go against Mahomes with a strong defense in this spot, especially when points are available. So we won't. 

Best Bet: Chiefs +3 (-100) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Best Bet: Under 44.5 Points (-110) with DraftKings Sportsbook

NFC Championship Game Best Bets

(3) Detroit Lions at (1) San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The 49ers are frequent visitors to The Big Game, having made their last appearance in Super Bowl 54, in losing to the Chiefs. But it’s been 30 years since the San Francisco 49ers won a Super Bowl. It’s been 55 years since the Detroit Lions won an NFL Championship. But these Lions are for real. Both the Lions and 49ers struggled until the 4^th quarter of their Divisional Round games. But the Lions looked far more assure of themselves, especially on defense. Brock Purdy had Mac Jones face dealing with the Packers. He was knocked out of last season’s NFC title game when the Eagles hit him early and often. The Lions will be coming with heat and pain from the edge. The 49ers will counter with lots of Christian McCaffrey. But the potential absence or limitation of San Francisco WR Deebo Samuel is a concern. Winning an NFC title game on the road is nothing new for Lions QB Jared Goff. He did it 5 years ago with the Rams, with some help from the refs. He’s been slinging it of late. Dan Campbell’s Lions have the best record in the NFL against the spread both this season – at 13-6 – and overall since Campbell took over the Lions before the 2021 season – 36-17. They are roaring on offense and defense. This is their year - until it isn't. 

Best Bet: Lions +6.5 (-102) with DraftKings Sportsbook

Best Bet: Lions ML (+235) with DraftKings Sportsbook