Super Bowl 56 preview: Why the under is still the play

Super Bowl 56 is finally here.

It may not be the matchup that most people expected, but a showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals in L.A. is chock full of compelling storylines.

The Rams opened as a 3.5-point favourite, and that line has since moved a full point in their favour.

Los Angeles Rams at Cincinnati Bengals

Line: Rams -4.5

Total: 48.5

The most interesting aspect of the line move for Super Bowl 56 is that it moved in L.A.’s direction despite the majority of the handle (56 per cent) and the number of bets (63 per cent) being on the Bengals as of Thursday.

Historically, being favoured by 4.5 points in the Super Bowl has been a recipe for disaster.

There have been three teams favoured by exactly 4.5 points in the Super Bowl over the past 56 years. In each of those three instances, the favourite lost outright.

As for the total, it’s come down 1.5 points from 50 to 48.5 since it opened, and there’s an argument to be made that number is still too high – more on that later.

Bengals betting analysis

Almost every conversation surrounding the Bengals this week starts with quarterback Joe Burrow.

He’s been phenomenal all season, and boasts remarkable chemistry with rookie phenom, and No. 1 receiver, Ja’Marr Chase.

Joe Burrow loves when the lights are the brightest pic.twitter.com/Y2xQ81hm8G

Most weeks, it’s his arm that does all the talking, but some of the most critical plays of the AFC Championship Game against Kansas City were made by his legs.

The Chiefs appeared to have Burrow bottled up in the backfield numerous times in the second half, only to see him turn a sure sack into a first down.

Joe Burrow had five rushing attempts for 25 yards in the AFC Championship game. Four of those five runs gave