Szvetitz: It's hard to bet against Joe Burrow in Super Bowl 56

The GIF has been used millions of times.

There’s Joe Burrow, sitting on a couch in the locker room, still in his LSU uniform, smoking a cigar.

LSU had just beaten Clemson for the national championship to cap off the 2019 college football season. And Burrow had led them there. After an undefeated regular season and winning the Heisman, Burrow set a national championship game record for 521 total yards and six touchdowns in LSU’s win over Clemson.

A victory cigar. A statement. A moment that now lives forever.

And as much as that one GIF has become part of sports and pop culture over the last year, it’s just the beginning for the now-Cincinnati quarterback who is a walking meme – but in the best of ways.

Burrow now has the chance to become the first quarterback in history to win the Heisman, a national championship and a Super Bowl when the Bengals play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Super Bowl 56 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

And if anyone can do it, it’s Joe Cool.

In his second season in the NFL, the 2020 top overall draft pick is on a clear path to becoming an elite NFL quarterback – if he’s not there already. It’s not just his talent; it’s his toughness. And swagger. Burrow has all the physical tools it takes to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. He’s also got the mentality. Channeling his inner Joe Namath, what Burrow brings to Cincinnati is contagious.

There’s something to be said about playing with that much confidence, especially heading into the Super Bowl. No team gets this far without it. Sure, talent and execution is a given. You just don’t luck into playing in a Super Bowl. But you’ve also got to have a swagger.

Burrow’s got it. The Bengals have it.

There doesn’t need to be a GIF to reinforce it – although it helps. His play – and his leadership – speaks for itself.

The 25-year-old finished the regular season first in the NFL in completion percentage (70.4%), sixth in passing yardage (4,611) and eighth in touchdown passes (34).

In the postseason, Burrow has gutted out three wins, including two consecutive down-to-the-wire walk-offs.

Despite being sacked 51 times in the regular season, and an NFL playoff record nine times against the Tennessee Titans, Burrow finds a way to not only keep his team in the game, but in position to win.

What’s more is that this is truly his first full season. Burrow tore an ACL last year as a rookie in Week 11. The Bengals finished that year 4-11-1.

This year, they’re 13-7 (including the playoffs) and just one win away from their first ever Super Bowl title. The difference? Joey Franchise.

Having his former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season, to throw to … and running back Joe Mixon being able to grind out yards and clock on the ground … Burrow has the talent around him to thrive. And win.

The Cincinnati defense is also playing better and better, giving up less than 20 points per game in the playoffs against some pretty potent offenses, namely Kansas City.

The Bengals are coming together at the right time, and Burrow is the figurehead.

It’s hard to go against Burrow. So, smoke ’em if you got ’em.

Here are some prop bets to consider when Super Bowl 56 kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., next Sunday.

Burrow exact passing touchdowns

2 TDs +210 Draftkings

While Burrow has only thrown for four total touchdowns in three playoff games, look for Zac Taylor and the Bengals coaching staff to get Chase and Co. loose down the field.

Burrow to win Super Bowl MVP

+225 at DraftKings

If the Bengals beat the Rams, it’ll be because on the arm (and possibly legs) of Burrow. The entire team runs through him. A Cincinnati win would equal an MVP for its quarterback.

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