NFL Wildcard Weekend- Top Pointspread Plays
With only four NFL games on the schedule for this wildcard weekend, it is time to sharpen your pencils to uncover the best bets against the current pointspead for each game. The odds makers know these teams like the back of their hands by now, so there is little margin for error when trying to uncover the winners.
Here is a look at my top two plays against the spread for this weekend’s NFL Wildcard Round . All lines quoted are courtesy of BetUs.com.
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New Orleans (-11) @ Seattle
The Saints come into this game a bit banged-up but more than ready to begin their defense of last year’s Super Bowl title. Drew Brees and company racked-up 11 wins this season which was second to only Atlanta in the NFC. They ended the season with the sixth-ranked offense overall and were third in passing yards per game.
New Orleans’ defense quietly ended the season ranked fourth overall, which was actually much better than last year’s 25th-place finish. It is giving up an average of 19.2 points per game and holding opponents to an average of 306.2 total yards per game.
By now everyone knows that the Seahawks are the first team to ever win a division and make the playoffs with a losing record. They actually already lost to the Saints 34-19 as an 11-point road underdog in Week 11 on their way to a 7-9 record.
Seattle’s only real advantage is playing this game at Qwest Field, but the reality is it went just 5-3 at home this season and was blown-out by the N.Y. Giants 41-7, Kansas City 42-24, and Atlanta 34-18 in those three losses.
The Seahawks are 1-5 ATS in their last six games as an underdog and 2-5 ATS in its last seven games overall. The favorite is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. While you normally would not take a double-digit road favorite in the playoffs, the line has been set that high for a good reason. The Pick: New Orleans -11
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Baltimore (-3) @ Kansas City
The Ravens find themselves in the exact same position as last year’s playoffs but face a road game at Arrowhead which is not as nearly as imposing as trying to win in Foxborough, which they did. Experience is the biggest factor in their favor for this game as they already know how to win on the road in the playoffs.
It does not hurt that Baltimore will have RB Ray Rice leading the charge for the offense and LB Ray Lewis anchoring the defensive attack. Rice ended the year with 1,220 rushing yards and Lewis led a unit that was ranked third in points allowed and +7 in turnovers.
The 10-6 Chiefs completed a dramatic turnaround this season after winning just four games last season, but the AFC West champs now have to elevate their game to the next level if they want to keep their dream season alive.
Kansas City also has a potent rushing attack behind Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones, but they will be running smack into the strength of the Ravens’ fifth-ranked run defense. If they are unsuccessful moving the ball on the ground, it could end up being a long day for QB Matt Cassel.
The Ravens are 4-1 ATS in their last four Wildcard games and 4-1-1 ATS in their last six road games overall. The Chiefs are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games against the AFC and 0-4 ATS in their last four playoff games. The ‘happy just to be here’ syndrome ends up biting Kansas City in this one as Baltimore easily covers the three points. The Pick: Baltimore -3
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