NFL Playoffs Divisional Rounds: Who to Bet
The NFL playoffs are underway and last week went almost exactly as we predicted it. Here are Z-code’s picks for the divisional round.
Steelers at Chiefs
The Steelers are by far the better team and they’re as healthy as they can be. However, Pitt struggles to play at its best when on the road. Vegas is currently viewing this game as a toss up with no spread listed and Pitt only a slight underdog at +108. We’re taking the steelers here and this is why. The Chiefs are a solid team but lack the extraordinary talent it takes to make a deep playoff run in the NFL. They have a stout defense and a mediocre offense lead by a QB who won’t take shots downfield and doesn’t have many weapons to throw to. The Chiefs offense is best described as safe. As an entire team theyre “safe.” They don’t take risks and they don’t make the big plays that come as payoffs for those risks. This will be a difference maker in this game. The Steelers have some of the heaviest hitters in the NFL when it comes to offensive weapons and the Chiefs defense isn’t good enough to stop them. We expect Pitt to be scoring in this game- and scoring a lot. There’s no way the Chiefs will be able to keep up. We like the value in a moneyline bet on the Steelers here as slight underdogs.
Steelers +108
Packers at Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys, or America’s team, have truly lived up to their nickname this year. They’ve won America’s heart by absolutely shredding the NFL with an offense lead by two rookies after season upon season of mediocrity. However, this will be the game where the lack of experience in Dallas’s signal caller and star running back will come to haunt them. Green Bay is an experienced team who has fought tooth and nail to get to this game. They’ve been in this position many times and are more than prepared for this game. I expect to see some “rookie mistakes” from Dallas in this game that will prove costly. I think the smart play here is to take the experienced and, not to mention on FIRE, Packers with the points vegas is giving us. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dallas wins this one, but Green Bay will keep it close if they do.
Packers +4.5
Texans at Patriots
This game is going to be a ridiculous onslaught and probably won’t be worth watching. If there were more games on I would consider this a no-bet at a -15 line. However, this is the playoffs and I know you all want to be gambling. Therefore, I’m suggesting a bet on the Under here at 44.5. The Texans have the number 1 defense in football. That’s not going to be enough to stop Tom Brady but it might slow him down. Furthermore, it’s very possible that Houston scores ZERO in this game. Either way, expect a blowout and for gameflow to dictate a low scoring game.
Under 44.5
Seahawks at Falcons
This is the game I like the most. The Falcons are quite possibly a superbowl team and the Seahawks are limping into this round as a team no one sees to be a contender. The Falcons are blessed with the home field advantage here which serves as a double-down advantage as the Seahawks are terrible on the road and the Georgia Dome will be bursting with love from Atlanta fans who haven’t hosted a playoff game in years. The line is currently -5 and the unstoppable Atlanta offense will have little trouble covering that.
Falcons -5
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