Wild Card Weekend sets off the 2023-24 NFL Playoffs with a slate of six postseason contests scheduled to begin this Saturday and wrap up Monday evening. Online NFL sportsbooks have created betting lines for all six games – here’s our take.
Cleveland Browns @ Houston Texans
- Point Spread: Browns -3.0, Texans +3.0
- Moneyline: Browns -150, Texans +130
- Over/Under: 45.0
The 2023-24 NFL Playoffs begin Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with the Cleveland Browns traveling to Houston to face the Texans, who won the AFC South in the final week of the season.
Browns’ QB Joe Flacco has led the Browns to the postseason despite the franchise starting five different quarterbacks. Flacco is now the leading odds-getter for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Texans QB CJ Stroud appears to be a lock to win NFL Rookie of the Year, throwing for over 4,000 yards this season despite missing time due to injury. We like the Texans to cover at home.
Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs
- Point Spread: Dolphins +4.0, Chiefs -4.0
- Moneyline: Dolphins +175, Chiefs -210
- Over/Under: 44.0
The Chiefs and Dolphins will kick off this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in Arrowhead Stadium. Miami nearly had the 2 seed locked up but lost to the Buffalo Bills following a late rally last Sunday night.
Now they must travel to Missouri and play the 3-seed KC Chiefs, where temperatures are expected to range between 14 and -2 degrees Fahrenheit.
The public must have been betting on the Kansas City Chiefs since their line with the Miami Dolphins debuted because it started off as a spread of 3.5 points but now rests at four.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
- Point Spread: Steelers +10.0, Bills -10.0
- Moneyline: Steelers +370, Bills -510
- Over/Under: 35.5
The Buffalo Bills are favored by ten points against the visiting Steelers. Pittsburgh was an unlikely Wild Card qualifier that secured a spot on the final week of the regular season. While the spread is massive for two playoff contenders, we do expect Buffalo to cover. Kickoff is at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys
- Point Spread: Packers +7.5, Cowboys -7.5
- Moneyline: Packers +275, Cowboys -350
- Over/Under: 50.5
Sunday’s second playoff game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. in Arlington, Texas, when the Packers meet the Cowboys for a chance to move on to the Divisional Round. While we are tempted by betting on the Dallas Cowboys to cover the 7.5 points, we expect Green Bay to put up a solid showing and keep it a little closer than that.
Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions
- Point Spread: Rams +3.5, Lions -3.5
- Moneyline: Rams +150, Lions -175
- Over/Under: 52.0
Closing out Sunday’s triple-header of NFL Playoff games is an 8:00 p.m. prime-time matchup between the LA Rams and Detroit Lions. The spread is set at 3.5 points in favor of the Lions, but the LA Rams are 10-7 ATS this season. We like Los Angeles to cover.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Point Spread: Eagles -3.0, Buccaneers +3.0
- Moneyline: Eagles -150, Buccaneers +130
- Over/Under: 44.0
Monday Night Football Wild Card edition will begin at 8:00 p.m. with the fairest weather of the weekend in Tampa, FL. The Buccaneers are the NFC South champs and get to host the Eagles, who are favored by a field goal on the road. We are betting on the Philadelphia Eagles to return to their midseason form and easily cover the three points.
Sources:
- The Kansas City Star
- Bovada Sportsbook (Bovada LV Review)
- ESPN
