The NFL Wild Card Weekend is upon us, and it’s shaping up to be a thrilling start to the postseason! DJ Stewart and Kelcey Coyne, from the High Low Sports Podcast, are here to give our NFL Playoffs betting picks and predictions for the super wild card round!
Chargers vs Texans
DJ: We’re going to start with the Chargers taking on the Texans, the four seed taking on the five seed, which is traditionally a very interesting matchup. The Chargers, as the five seed, are favored -3 and a -150 moneyline over the Texans, at +130.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m actually more surprised the Chargers aren’t favored by more. And I think part of that is because the last time we saw Justin Herbert and the Chargers in the playoffs, they choked a 27 point lead to an AFC south division winner. So that might have something to do with it. But do you remember the last time the Texans looked good when you watched them? The last time I remember is when they played the Bills back in early October. So I’m gonna take the Chargers and I’ll take the -3 or the money line. Some books might even give you -2.5 for basically the same thing. So the field goal gets it for you. I’m gonna take the Chargers in this one and I think they cover.
Chargers Cover -3 spread: -105
The Chargers are guided by their offensive line and guided by the run game and their run game and their offensive line are healthy. So it’s going to be a tough one for the Texans. So yeah, I’m, I’m with you. I’m not gonna go with the spread here. I’m gonna go straight to the money line, -150 for the Chargers. As much as I was hoping I could convince myself of the Texans, I didn’t.
Chargers Moneyline: -150
Steelers vs Ravens
DJ: Next up, we got the Steelers taking on the Ravens. The Ravens are a -9.5 point favorite and -550 moneyline and Steelers at +380. Oddsmakers give the Ravens a 72% to win outright. This one’s kind of interesting because it is the polar opposite of the matchup. We just talked about the away team. When was the last time the Steelers looked good? Well, the last time they played the Ravens, arguably, which they won. The problem is they played the Ravens in between that time and they lost by double digits. Whereas the Ravens have been. I think cooking would be an understatement at this point. They’ve been outstanding.
Kelcey: I think this is going to be a lot closer to the first matchup where it’s going to be a close game. I don’t think this is a blowout type of game. I’ve been wrong about the Steelers in the playoffs before. I was wrong about the Steelers this entire season. So I’m going to go ahead and say I apologize to Steelers fans, I was wrong. I think this game depends on who can get their passing game going more efficiently. Russell Wilson is not a guy you want to really tempt in the playoffs to get hot because as much as I have again given him the stick right recently, he’s a playoff winner, he wins in the playoffs and that’s something that the Steelers haven’t had as a quarterback in a while and I think there are times where he can do something and be impactful and make plays. On the flip side you have two-time MVP, potentially three-time MVP Lamar Jackson on the other side and it’s just a matter of him getting efficient and getting into the offense. I think this is going to be one where you look at like it should be more competitive than the +380 +550 odds that it’s giving you.
DJ: Every single checkbox points to the Ravens. However, the Steelers still have Mike Tomlin and Russell Wilson in the playoffs, in an AFC north matchup, as underdogs. And then the Ravens, who in the playoffs minus last year against Houston, have had a rough go for the most part. I’m still going to take the Ravens to win but I do think the Steelers will find a way to cover minus nine and a half. They’ll lose like they’ll lose like 21 to 17 something like that.
Steelers Cover +9.5.
KC: I think I agree with you, I’m picking the Steelers to cover, but for me, I. I think it’s closer to the eight and nine point range. I just don’t love -9.5. So if this drops to like a seven and a half by game time, then I changed my answer. But I’m gonna say Steelers cover for now. But Ravens would win it
Steelers Cover +9.5.
Bills vs Broncos
DJ: Speaking of spreads that you don’t like, we got Kelcey’s boy, Bo Nix, and the Denver Broncos taking on the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are -9 point favorites with a moneyline at -550. The Broncos getting +380 moneyline. Kelcey, how do you feel about Bo in his first NFL playoff game?
Kelcey: He reminds me of what quarterbacks used to be coming into the league is the best way I can describe it, where they were seasoned in college and then brought in. He obviously had a whole extra season under his belt, but he was still seasoned in college to come in and be ready for a lot of this. And let’s not kid ourselves. He played a lot of big games in college. He knows how to play in these games. Unfortunately, for him, he might be going up as one of the hottest teams and hottest quarterbacks right now in Josh Allen. MVP candidate Josh Allen seems to be playing the most efficient football he’s played in a couple years. Good luck Bo, this is a tough task.
DJ: Absolutely, and defensively, my goodness, when they’re on, they are outstanding. Patrick Surtain II is the Defensive Player of the Year, and If it’s not him, it’s a robbery. I don’t need to hear any whining and complaining like last year, it’s clearly PS2. This being said, I’m going to take Denver to cover +9. The Bills should be favored by every metric possible, but I think the defense will find a way to keep it just close enough, especially if Amari Cooper doesn’t play. I don’t think they will win and I don’t think it’ll be all that close until the final score.
Broncos cover +9
Kelcey: Buffalo, man, that’s a tough team to go up against. But when you’re weighing the two here, there’s an opportunity for the Broncos to sneak in and get a win here. Am I going to pick them? No. Am I going to pick them to cover the spread? Also no. Give me Buffalo to cover outright
Bills cover -9
Eagles vs Packers
DJ: Next up, we have the should-be MVP in my opinion, Saquan Barkley, and the Eagles taking on the Green Bay Packers. Eagles are -5 point favorites after opening as -3 favorites now that Jalen Hurts is cleared to go. Packers +200 moneyline and Eagles minus 230. A rematch of the week 1, Friday night game in Brazil. This one played in the Greater Continental 48, so we don’t have to worry about that this time.
Kelcey: This is a fun game and this is going to be a completely different type of game than we saw in Brazil. From the standpoint of both of these teams are different. They have figured a lot of their things out. The Eagles did exactly what we asked them to do, which is put your rookie corners out there and let them learn so they’re ready for the playoff time. On the flip side, I don’t know what Jordan Love did, but he forgot how to throw picks again. And it’s great. Seeing the Packers and what they do with Josh Jacobs, Jordan Love and those receivers, they’re all weapons.
DJ: Everything points to the Eagles, but I got a feeling about the Packers. I don’t know what it is. Their run defense allows fewer than 100 yards per game, so they’re about seventh in the league. I’m a little worried about the lack of Jaire Alexander, but they haven’t had him in a long time anyway and they’ve still been doing what they’ve been doing. That run game is so weirdly dynamic. Matt LaFleur is so good at designing run plays, he’s like a mad genius. The loss of Christian Watson does worry me a little bit. Just that ability to just fly down the field like a gazelle. We’re gonna take the Packers with the upset. If you don’t want to touch that money line, I don’t blame you. But we’re hammering +5.5.
Packers cover +5.5
Kelcey: Well, I’ve already sacrificed my pride as a Cowboys fan, but I guess whatever’s left, I’m sacrificing it here. I agree with a lot of what you said about the Packers. I just, I go back to what I said, I said about the Chargers and I’ll say it again. Run the ball, grind them out on defense. And right now in the NFC, as good as the Packers are doing both of those things, the Eagles are better at it. And that’s where I’m going here, where the Eagles are going to be able to grind it out. Give me the Eagles here to win the game at -240 odds and cover.
Eagles Cover -5.5
Buccaneers vs Commanders
DJ: Next up, we have the Washington Commanders taking on the Tampa Bay Buck. The Bucs, the home team and a -3.5 point favorite on this one. I’m going to keep mine short and sweet. I think the Bucs are a better team. They’re at home. They’re healthy. I love that we have Mike Evans vs. Marshawn Lattimore in the playoffs though. I’m just going to presume those two are ejected. So I’m. I’m not counting those two. I think the Buccaneers run game with Bucky Irving and Rashaad White is going to find a way to get it done. Commander’s defense, while much improved, is still spotty. When Baker is in the kitchen, they’re outstanding. So I’m gonna take the Bucs. I think they will cover -3.5. Everything points to them in that offense. When it gets going, it’s absolutely ridiculous. Like that offense when it is cooking, it is absolutely dynamic.
Buccaneers Cover -3.5
Kelcey: Baker has never lost a wildcard playoff game in his career. He’s 2-0 in them. So give me the Commanders to win on this one. I’ll go Jayden Daniels with an upset. I love Baker. I love the Bucs. I just. Something feels special about Jayden Daniels and it feels like he’s gonna prove it. Terry McLaurin, despite the bad output in week 17, terrible output for my fantasy team. I still think there’s a lot to come back here for the Commanders. So give me the Commanders to pull my upset for the week here and win this one.
Commanders Cover +3.5, moneyline
Rams vs Vikings
DJ: Last, but not least, the 14-win Vikings as the fifth seed go on the road to LA (In Arizona) to take on the 10-win Rams as -2.5 point favorites. Vikings moneyline at -130 and the Rams at +110. The Rams did beat them when they matched up earlier in the year and they won pretty comfortably too. Matthew Stafford is such a veteran and awesome quarterback that can deal with Brian Flores’s dynamic defense that destroys so many inexperienced quarterbacks. The Vikings have been awesome all season, but the Rams are fully healthy and rested, so I will take them to not only cover +2.5 but to win outright. McVey has one of the best coaching trees, and that includes Kevin O’Connell. The Rams experience will make the difference in this game.
Rams Cover +2.5, moneyline
Kelcey: You know, Sam Darnold in California has a little bit of a reputation of being a California kid. When he comes to California to play, especially Southern California, he’s different. I’m going to take the Vikings in this one. The Rams won earlier this year, but it’s hard in the NFL for things to repeat themselves.
Vikings Cover -2.5, moneyline.
Recap
DJ – Chargers -3, Steelers +9.5, Broncos +9, Packers +5.5, Buccaneers -3.5, Rams +2.5
Kelcey – Chargers -3, Steelers +9.5, Bills -9, Eagles -5.5, Commanders +3.5, Vikings -2.5
Remember, always bet responsibly and within your means.
