All 4 possible Super Bowl matchups are ‘gold’ for sports books
Updated January 19, 2019 - 5:33 pm

Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett breaks away from Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Daniel Sorensen to score a touchdown during the second half in Los Angeles in November 2018. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, center, fumbles the ball as he is sacked by Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald, lower right, next to Chiefs offensive guard Cameron Erving (75) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam (not shown) recovered the fumble and scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Josh Reynolds (83) catches a touchdown pass over Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Orlando Scandrick, lower right, during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods makes a catch against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12) is tripped up by Kansas City Chiefs free safety Ron Parker, left, during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) tries to tackle Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam, right, after Ebukam intercepted a pass from Mahomes during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. Ebukam got past Mahomes to score a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston, left, strips the ball away from Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey recovered the ball and scored a touchdown. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

Los Angeles Rams tight end Gerald Everett (81) scores a touchdown after catching a pass ahead of Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Daniel Sorensen, left, during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) tries for extra yardage as he is tripped up by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

Los Angeles Rams players celebrate after cornerback Marcus Peters (obscured) intercepted a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley, lower left, during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Rams won 54-51. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)

File- This Nov. 19, 2018, file photo shows Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, right, greeting Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, left, after an NFL football game, in Los Angeles. The Rams are hitting their bye week as a 10-1 Super Bowl contender less than two years after they returned to Los Angeles with a dismal 4-12 season. The Rams’ efforts to recapture the love and attention of the nation's second-largest city are getting an enormous boost from McVay's success, as the fanatical Coliseum crowd attested against the Chiefs. When the Rams open their multi-billion-dollar stadium complex in Inglewood in 21 months, they’ll ride a wave of season ticket sales and corporate interest generated by this burgeoning powerhouse. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo, File)
With the NFL’s four highest-scoring teams squaring off on Championship Sunday, every possible Super Bowl LIII matchup is compelling.
Whether it’s Rams-Chiefs, Chiefs-Saints, Saints-Patriots or Patriots-Rams, Las Vegas bookmakers are expecting plenty of points and Nevada’s fourth straight record Super Bowl betting handle.
“Those four are gold,” William Hill sports book director Nick Bogdanovich said. “It’s like choosing between a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley and a Mercedes. It doesn’t matter what you’re getting. It will be something good.
“It’ll be a record (handle), there’s no question about it. You can go over (last year’s total of $158.6 million) for whatever you want to win.”
The most appealing matchup for the books would be a rematch of the Rams’ 54-51 regular-season win over the Chiefs that was the third highest-scoring game in NFL history.
“Can it be a thriller like it was, with 105 points?” Bogdanovich said. “Highly doubtful. But that’s the Super Bowl I’m rooting for.”
The books have lines up on each potential Super Bowl matchup. Rams-Chiefs is a pick’em at the Westgate sports book and has the highest total at 63.
“We had a sharp guy bet under 63 on the look-ahead number,” Westgate sports book director John Murray said. “If it is the actual Super Bowl, by kickoff the total will be even higher. It will be in the mid-60s, and people are going to bet it over.
“And if it’s 54-51 again, we’re not going to do well on props.”
Each book has started working on the ever-popular Super Bowl props, which will be posted at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Westgate.
“The four teams that are left will really create a propatopia. The offensive props will be so much fun for this game,” Sunset Station sports book director Chuck Esposito said. “The conditions on the turf in the dome (at Mercedes-Benz Stadium) in Georgia will be ideal from a prop standpoint and in-play (betting) and the game itself.”
Here’s a quick glance at the other three possible Super Bowl matchups:
Saints vs. Patriots
Line/Total: Saints -1½, 56½
Storyline: Tom Brady (41) vs. Drew Brees (40) in a battle of 40-something Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks.
“If it’s the Saints and Patriots, we’re not going to be upset,” Esposito said. “Brees and Brady are two Hall of Famers and arguably two of the greatest quarterbacks ever.
“Brees can really cement his legacy with another Super Bowl win. It’s Brady and Belichick, love them or hate them. Part of what generates so much handle is people love to back them in the big game or go against them in the big game.”
This game has the lowest total of the four possible matchups.
Rams vs. Patriots
Line/Total: Pick, 57½
Storyline: Rematch of New England’s 20-17 win over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
“Tom Brady’s first ring was against Kurt Warner and the Rams, and could this possibly be his last one?” Esposito said.
The game also would feature an intriguing coaching showdown between young innovator Sean McVay and old master Bill Belichick.
“I think the Patriots would go off favored coming off a win at Kansas City,” Murray said.
Saints vs. Chiefs
Line/Total: Saints -1½, 59½
Storyline: Andy Reid still searching for his first Super Bowl title in 20-year NFL coaching career, and Brees vs. Patrick Mahomes.
“You’ve got two veteran coaches in Sean Payton and Andy Reid, and Reid’s taking his second team to a Super Bowl and still doesn’t have a ring,” Esposito said. “The big matchup there is the young quarterback in Mahomes against Brees. It looks like Mahomes will win the MVP for the regular season. Can Brees win the MVP in the Super Bowl?”
More Betting: Follow at reviewjournal.com/betting
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.
Possible Super Bowl lines
Posted at Westgate sports book
Rams Pick 63 Chiefs
Saints 1½ 56½ Patriots
Rams Pick 57½ Patriots
Saints 1½ 59½ Chiefs
Super Bowl LIII exacta
Posted at William Hill sports book
Chiefs over Saints +350
Saints over Chiefs +350
Chiefs over Rams +550
Saints over Patriots +550
Patriots over Saints 6-1
Rams over Chiefs 7-1
Patriots over Rams 9-1
Rams over Patriots 10-1