The NFL playoffs are ready to get underway and the NFL betting lines are open for business. There are some teams that fans are interested to see and other teams that are expected to skate through the wild card round. When you spend some time looking at each game in detail, you realize that nothing is set in stone. The price per head sports experts have set the odds and now it is time to see who will come out on top in this weekend’s wild card action.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans (-3)
The line on this game has not moved since it was set earlier in the week. This is the first time that the Houston Texans have made the playoffs in franchise history, so it is an exciting time for the football fans in Houston. But the Texans enter this game without their starting quarterback Matt Schaub and defensive star Mario Williams. The defense has been able to compensate somewhat for Williams’ absence, but the offense is struggling without Schaub. With third-string quarterback TJ Yates ready to start his first NFL playoff game, things do not look good for the Texans.
The Bengals are healthy and the rookie duo of quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver AJ Green are ready to score points in Houston. The price per head bookmaking experts are looking at the Cincinnati defense to be the key to this game. With the Houston passing game struggling, the Bengals’ defense will be called on to shut down Houston running back Arian Foster.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints (-10 ½)
Of all the teams that the Detroit Lions could have drawn in the first round of the playoffs, it had to be the New Orleans Saints. A bodog review of the second half of the season shows that the Saints ran the board and went 8-0 in its last eight games. In the process, quarterback Drew Brees set the single-season passing record and the New Orleans’ offense was lighting up scoreboards all over the NFL.
The Lions are young and confident. But this Saints team may be too much for the Detroit squad to handle. Detroit is definitely an up and coming team and this playoff experience will be valuable to them.
Pick: New Orleans Saints
Atlanta Falcons @ New York Giants (-3)
NFL fans in New York watched the Giants rise to the challenge and win the NFC East. Now they want to see the Giants rise to the challenge and beat the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have a huge uphill battle as it is a dome team that is not only playing a playoff game on the road in a stadium without a dome, but it is playing that game in New York where the weather is probably going to be cold and unbearable. The Giants probably do not have enough talent to get to the NFC championship game, but it definitely has enough to pull off this victory.
Pick: New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers (-9) @ Denver Broncos
Teams have learned that you need an active defensive secondary and fast linebackers to completely shut down Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos’ offense. The Steelers have everything it needs to beat the Broncos in Denver. The Pittsburgh offense is battered with the loss of running back Rashard Mendenhall and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s bad ankle that will severely limit his mobility. But all of that probably will not matter in this game.
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers
