Opportunities abound during and plenty of opportunities for Wildcard weekend betting. Get your action in and make sure you don’t miss any of the top NFL bets. Here is a break down of all the games, where they are being played, along with a prediction on who will win.
4:30 pm Eastern: Los Angeles Chargers (-3) at Houston Texans 43.5
The Los Angeles Chargers are 7-2 against the spread on the road this season. The Houston Texans are 3-5 against the spread at home.
Both teams have more defense than offense. The Chargers boast the league’s best scoring defense allowing just 17.7 points per game. Houston has the league’s fifth best overall defense allowing just 315 yards per game. I think the teams are headed for a rock fight on Saturday.
Prediction: Los Angeles 16 Houston 14
8:00 pm Eastern: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-9.5) 43.5
Pittsburgh was on a 4-1 streak against the spread in this matchup until the two teams’ last meeting. The Ravens have won and covered four straight games. The under is 8-1 in the last nine meetings between these teams.
Pittsburgh seems to be spiraling as the Ravens come into this one on a high. You have to look a bit deeper. Pittsburgh’s schedule to close the season was brutal while the Ravens matched up against the Browns, Texans, and Giants. The last meeting between Pittsburgh and Baltimore was a one-score affair into the fourth quarter. I think things revert back to form between these two.
Prediction: Baltimore 20 Pittsburgh 17
1:00 pm Eastern: Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills (-8.5) 46.5
The Bills are 8-4 against the spread in their last twelve games. The Broncos are 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games. The over is 5-1 in Denver’s last six road matchups. Denver beat the Bills last year 24-22.
The Bills are a huge favorite and one of the public’s favorite picks this weekend. I love to go against the public’s choice, but it means taking a rookie quarterback on the road in the playoffs. I don’t love either side in this one, but I think Peyton is the better coach and will come up with something to keep this one close.
Prediction: Buffalo 24 Denver 17
4:40 pm Eastern: Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) 45.5
These teams played in week one in Brazil. The Eagles won that game 34-29. The Eagles are 7-2 against the spread in their last nine games and 11-6 overall for the season. Green Bay is 9-8 against the spread this year.
Jalen Hurts returned to practice and is trending in the right direction for Philadelphia fans. With Hurts, the Eagles are a legitimate Super Bowl favorite. Without him they are not going to beat anyone still playing football. Check on his health, but if he is okay to play, I love Philadelphia here. Green Bay is a nice team, but they are a cut below the top dogs in the league and the injury to Christian Watson is a factor.
Prediction: Philadelphia 34 Green Bay 17
8:00 pm Eastern: Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) 50.5
Like the Green Bay at Philadelphia game, this one is a rematch from week one. Tampa Bay beat Washington in Tampa in week one 37-20. The Commanders are 10-6-1 against the spread this season. The Bucs are 10-7 against the spread. Both teams are riding high into the postseason. Tampa has won six of their last seven, and Washington has won five straight games.
This game features another rookie leading his team in a playoff game on the road. Jayden Daniels has been impressive, but I will take the experienced signal caller in this one since the line is much more manageable than the Denver at Buffalo game.
Prediction: Tampa Bay 28 Washington 20
8:00 pm Eastern: Minnesota Vikings (-1) at Los Angeles Rams 47.5
This is yet another rematch of a regular season matchup in the NFC. Minnesota traveled to Los Angeles in week seven. The Rams won that game 30-20. The Rams may lose the home field advantage in this one due to the horrible fires in Los Angeles with the NFL considering Arizona as the alternate site. The Vikings are an impressive 11-5-1 against the spread this season. The Rams are 9-8 against the spread.
With the spotlight on the receivers in this one, it will probably be the team that finds success on the ground that wins on Monday. The Rams outrushed the Vikings in that game 107-64. I’m not in love with either team in this game, but I do like the under very much.
Prediction: Minnesota 21 Los Angeles 17