NFL Betting: Defensive Props to Target in the Conference Championship Round

The NFL is nearing its biggest game of the year as four teams duke it out for the Conference Championships this weekend.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens kick off the doubleheader on Sunday. Patrick Mahomes and Co. are looking to advance to their second consecutive Super Bowl, and the Ravens are chasing their first AFC title since winning the Lombardi Trophy in 2012. For the nightcap, the San Francisco 49ers are looking to continue their dominance while the Detroit Lions are knocking on the door of making their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

The stakes are present across the board, which also means a smorgasbord of NFL odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook. Defensive props do not draw as many eyes as other bets, but plenty of great value is to be had with the right picks.

The Conference Championship Round certainly has its fair share of exceptional defenses with three of numberFire's top eight units on the season still alive. Which defensive stars should be targeted in props this weekend?

Nick Bosa to Not Record a Sack (+136)

Nick Bosa has been a premier edge rusher for the 49ers, recording double-digit sacks in three consecutive seasons. However, his production has taken a hit this season with 10.5 sacks compared to 18.5 and 15.5 sacks in the 2022 and 2021 regular seasons.

Bosa ramped up his production against the Green Bay Packers with seven pressures and five quarterback hits, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). However, the star edge rusher has failed to log an elusive sack in four consecutive games.

His chances of sacking the quarterback in the Conference Championship Round could be lower than ever, for the Lions feature one of -- if not the best -- offensive lines in football.

Detroit gave up the fourth-fewest sacks during the regular season. The Lions' tackle duo of Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker also come off dominant performances, as they combined for only one pressure allowed and finished with PFF grades that eclipsed 93.0.

Bosa could be poised for plenty of one-on-ones with Sewell, who has established himself as one of the league's best offensive tackles. Sewell continues to prove he's a freak of nature, as he recorded the highest playoff run blocking grade in PFF history last week (97.5). Of course, Sewell is also an elite pass blocker with the sixth-best pass block win rate, per ESPN.

The superstar edge rusher's sack cold streak could continue against the Lions' elite offensive line.

Nick Bolton Over 9.5 Tackles (-105)

The Chiefs' linebacker Nick Bolton is playing at his peak at the perfect time. The third-year backer leads the playoffs with 23 tackles, which includes his 13-tackle performance against the Buffalo Bills'run-heavy attack in the Divisional Round (39 rushing attempts).

Kansas City will likely need another big performance out of Bolton to take down the Ravens on the road. Last week's 27-24 win in Buffalo could be a sample of what to expect on Sunday. The Chiefs are facing another elite rushing attack, as Baltimore touts numberFire's second-best adjusted run offense while averaging the most carries per game in the league.

The Ravens did not pull any punches against the Houston Texans, as they stayed true to the game plan with 42 rushing attempts. With Bolton going against another exceptional rushing attack, I like Kansas City's top linebacker to go over 9.5 tackles.

Jadeveon Clowney to Record a Sack (+180)

Justin Madubuike has been a major storyline for Baltimore, and his emergence has helped elevate this unit to numberFire's top defense in football. Madubuike has truly developed into one of the league's most feared three-technique rushers; he posted 13.0 sacks in the regular season while earning Second Team All-Pro honors.

The stud interior rusher has a tall task against Kansas City, for their offensive line features the First Team All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney. Plus, right guard Trey Smith gave up zero pressures and sacks in the Divisional Round. Thuney, Smith, and center Creed Humphrey all rank within the top four in pass block win rate among all interior offensive linemen.

Of course, the Ravens have logged the most sacks in the NFL with 60.0. I still like their chances of generating pressure on Patrick Mahomes, but it may need to come from the edge spots.

This is where Jadeveon Clowney comes in. He ranked second on the team in the regular season with 9.5 sacks. The veteran edge rusher also had the highest PFF grade among Baltimore's defenders in the Divisional Round (79.0).

Kansas City's right tackle Jawaan Taylor has been the weak spot of the offensive line this season. If given one-on-one matchups with Taylor -- which seems likely considering Baltimore's elite interior defensive line -- Clowney could get to the quarterback.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.