Super Wild Card Weekend, emphasis on super, is set to be the perfect weekend for football fans. It will feature non-stop, jam-packed football action from early Saturday afternoon through Sunday night, making it a sports bettor’s paradise.
Ahead of this weekend’s action, here is a casual bettor’s guide to picks for each do-or-die game.
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook as of Thursday
Buffalo Bills (-6.5, O/U 51) vs. Indianapolis Colts
Josh Allen only quarterbacked the first half of Buffalo’s season finale against the Miami Dolphins and the Bills still blew them out 56-26. Buffalo is on a roll and I have no reason to think the team is going to slow down on Saturday.
That’s not to say the Colts aren’t good, they’ve been very impressive. They were only listed as underdogs once this season on the closing line and that was against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5. And they did finish the season with an 11-5 record and second in the AFC South.
But the Bills are solid Super Bowl contenders and their championship hopes aren’t going to die against the Colts. Give me the Bills -6.5 and over 51. And Bills Mafia, please dive through your tables safely (this sounds like an oxymoron but COVID-19-wise).
Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, O/U 42.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams
I have a feeling this Saturday evening matchup is going to be a close game but it’s tough to say what will happen at this point. Jared Goff is iffy after having thumb surgery on his throwing hand, but he did throw during practice on Wednesday. Barring a setback, it looks like there’s a good chance he will play this weekend. Goff is still day-to-day, but aren’t we all.
The Seahawks and Rams faced each other twice this past season, with Los Angeles winning the first game 23-16 and Seattle rolling 20-9 in the second just two weeks ago. The Seahawks are hot, so, Goff or not, I feel like they have a better chance at a victory in this one.
Plus, Seattle has won 10 straight home playoff games and it’s tough to go against that streak. I’m rolling with the 'Hawks -3.5, Over 42.5.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7.5, O/U 44.5) at Washington Football Team
Chase Young said this week he is "coming" for Tom Brady, so both sides of this matchup are certainly fired up. Young’s “I want Tom” comments will undoubtedly be bulletin board material for the Buccaneers heading into the game, and Brady tends to thrive against haters.
The bad news for Brady is the weather prediction for this game. Mr. Florida hates the Northeast climate now and it’s supposed to be 27 degrees in Washington on Saturday. If he can mentally push past that, the Buccaneers have a solid chance to edge out the Football Team. But they are not the obvious choice here.
The Bucs’ losses this season came against the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and the New Orleans Saints twice, and their wins were against the easier teams on the schedule. The bottom line for me is I’ve never been one to doubt Brady in playoff games. I’m going with the Buccaneers -7.5 and under 44.5.
Baltimore Ravens (-3, O/U 54.5) at Tennessee Titans
As with the Bucs, a lot of the Ravens’ wins this season came against below-average teams, but there is something to be said for the confidence boost that comes with a five-game winning streak.
Lamar Jackson is also really intent on erasing his playoff narrative, as he is 0-2 in the postseason. Jackson wants to change that, but can he and the Ravens pull it off and slow down Derrick Henry and the Titans’ offense? I’m not so sure.
Tennessee eliminated Baltimore from the playoffs last year and I have a feeling they’re going to do it again this weekend. I’m going with the Titans +3 and under 54.5.
New Orleans Saints (-9.5, O/U 47.5) vs. Chicago Bears
The Week 8 meeting between the Saints and Bears this season ended in a close 26-23 overtime win for New Orleans, but Chicago started Nick Foles at quarterback during that matchup. This time around we get Drew Brees against Mitch Trubisky, but I don't see that making a difference.
The Bears just barely made it into the postseason and they haven’t defeated the Saints in 12 years. That’s pretty much all I need to hear when making a pick for this matchup. I don’t like Chicago’s chances to end that losing streak this weekend. I’m taking the Saints -9.5 and over 47.5.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-6, O/U 47.5) vs. Cleveland Browns
This is the Browns’ first playoff appearance in 18 years, so it’s a big moment for them. But they won’t have their head coach when the moment arrives.
COVID-19 has infiltrated the team during the past few weeks and Kevin Stefanski, two other coaches, and two players have tested positive in recent days. They will all miss Sunday’s matchup against the Steelers. Mike Priefer, the Browns’ controversial special teams coordinator, will step in as the acting head coach this weekend.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said this week he knows little about Priefer (as a coach), so this unknown could work to the Browns’ benefit in terms of how the Steelers prepare for the game. But, there is no replacing likely Coach of the Year winner Stefanski, who has turned Cleveland from a laughingstock into a playoff team.
In any case, I’m going with the Steelers. The Browns could still potentially receive more positive COVID-19 tests, though there were no new tests as of Wednesday. There is just a lot going on with them right now. Too many variables there, so give me the Steelers -6 and under 47.5.