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The 2023-24 NFL playoffs continue following an exciting Super Wild Card Weekend that featured its fair share of upsets and blowouts. Super Bowl LVIII is now one step closer with the Divisional Round taking place this weekend, pitting the final eight teams against each other with tickets to the conference championship games on the line.
The Divisional Round schedule is set! 🔥 #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/yBlhSqZF5I
— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
As usual, the folks around Betting News will provide you with NFL playoff coverage throughout the week, beginning with this NFL Divisional Round primer. Let’s explore the opening odds and my early betting picks for each of the four upcoming postseason contests.
Wild Card Round Outright Record: 3-3-0
Wild Card Round Best Bet Record: 4-2-0
All NFL Divisional Round odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 10:10 a.m. ET.
AFC Divisional Round Predictions, Odds & Best Bets
Texans vs Ravens Divisional Odds & Prediction
- Record: Houston Texans (10-7) vs. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)
- Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 20 @ 4:30 p.m. ET
- Location: M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD)
- Spread: Texans +9.5 (-115) | Ravens -9.5 (-105)
- Total: OVER 45 (-110) | UNDER 45 (-110)
- Moneyline: Texans (+335) | Ravens (-415)
The Texans proved that they belonged in the playoffs on Wild Card Weekend, notching a 45-14 win over the Cleveland Browns as QB C.J. Stroud through for 274 passing yards with three touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Ravens begin their Super Bowl hunt after last week’s bye due to their No. 1 seed status in the AFC.
Although the Texans’ last win was impressive, the Ravens are on another level. Baltimore is a top-three team on both sides of the ball, scoring 28.4 PPG (3rd) while allowing 16.5 PPG (1st). The Ravens are also led by NFL MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, who’s won six straight starts while throwing for 1,501 yards, 14 TDs, and two INTs with a 109.8 passer rating.
And as good as the Texans are, this is the same Ravens squad that outscored the 49ers and Dolphins 89-38 on aggregate in back-to-back games toward the end of the regular season. That’s on top of the fact that Baltimore already picked up a 25-9 win over Houston back in Week 1.
As for the best bet, I like the total going Over 45 points. Houston’s last four games saw an average of 47 points scored while Baltimore’s previous five averaged 50.4 PPG. Furthermore, the Over is 4-1 in Baltimore’s last five home games, finishing north of 45 points in each of those occurrences.
Texans vs Ravens Prediction: BAL wins
Best Texans vs Ravens Bet: o45 Total Points (-110)
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Chiefs vs Bills Divisional Odds & Prediction
- Record: Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) vs. Buffalo Bills (11-6)
- Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 21 @ 6:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, NY)
- Spread: Chiefs +2.5 (+100) | Bills -2.5 (-120)
- Total: OVER 46.5 (-110) | UNDER 46.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Chiefs (+127) | Bills (-147)
After the Chiefs disposed of the Dolphins and the Bills sent the Steelers packing, the two AFC juggernauts will collide at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. These teams met in each of the last two postseason, resulting in back-to-back wins for Kansas City.
But having said that, this year is different. The last two Bills-Chiefs clashes were played at Arrowhead Stadium, but the scene has now shifted to Highmark Stadium, marking the first time that Patrick Mahomes will play a road playoff road game in his career. It won’t be an easy battle given that Buffalo is 7-2 SU with a plus-14.7 average scoring margin (2nd) at home this season.
After back-to-back years of coming up short, I’m taking the Bills to defeat the Chiefs on Sunday. Josh Allen is playing on another level at the moment and I don’t even think Kansas City can slow him down, especially if snow and wind play a factor again this weekend.
Considering how the Bills also only need a field goal to cover the spread, I’m also comfortable with taking them as 2.5-point favorites.
Chiefs vs Bills Prediction: BUF wins
Best Chiefs vs Bills Bet: BUF 2.5 (-120)
NFL Best Bets and Picks
Looking to get in on even more football action? Be sure to check out our NFL picks page for consensus picks for every game on any day of the year.
You can also check out:
NFC Divisional Round Predictions, Odds & Best Bets
Packers vs 49ers Divisional Odds & Prediction
- Record: Green Bay Packers (9-8) vs. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Date & Time: Saturday, Jan. 20 @ 8:15 p.m. ET
- Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)
- Spread: Packers +10 (-113) | 49ers -10 (-107)
- Total: OVER 50 (-105) | UNDER 50 (-115)
- Moneyline: Packers (+370) | 49ers (-470)
The Packers pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the Wild Card Round, picking up a 48-32 win over the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Time will tell if they can keep the momentum going against the 49ers, who are the NFC’s No. 1 seed and coming off a first-round bye.
I get that it’s fun to jump on the Packers bandwagon after last week’s upset, but I’m sticking with the 49ers. San Francisco has been viewed as a Super Bowl favorite throughout the 2023 campaign and will only be even more dangerous now that the team is well-rested. It’s also important to remember that the 49ers went on a 7-1 SU run (with the only loss coming to the Ravens) before resting most of their starters against the Rams in Week 18.
At the end of the day, Packers QB Jordan Love just isn’t ready to deal with the pressure that comes with playing at Levi’s Stadium.
Considering how the 49ers blew out their fair share of “contenders” during the regular season, I can see them covering the 10-point spread to bring the Packers back down to earth.
Packers vs 49ers Prediction: SF wins
Best Packers vs 49ers Bet: SF -10 (-107)
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Buccaneers vs Lions Divisional Odds & Prediction
- Record: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) vs. Detroit Lions (12-5)
- Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 21 @ 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Ford Field (Detroit, MI)
- Spread: Buccaneers +6 (-105) | Lions -6 (-115)
- Total: OVER 48.5 (-110) | UNDER 48.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Buccaneers (+230) | Lions (-275)
The final NFL Divisional Round matchup pits the Buccaneers head-to-head against the Lions at Ford Field. Tampa proved a lot of doubters wrong by earning a 32-9 blowout win over the Eagles while the Lions won their first playoff game since 1992, edging out the Rams to the tune of a 24-23 final score.
The Bucs proved last week that they shouldn’t be underestimated, but it’s worth noting that the Eagles looked horrific to close out the campaign. The Lions should pose a tougher test, especially after slaying their postseason demons. Ford Field is also a tough environment for visiting teams as Detroit is 7-2 SU (7-2 ATS) with the seventh-best home scoring margin in the NFL.
I don’t see the Lions struggling to cover the spread, either. They already defeated the Bucs 20-6 back in Week 6, improving to 11-4 ATS in the last 15 meetings between these teams. Winning by at least a touchdown isn’t too big of an ask.
Buccaneers vs Lions Prediction: DET wins
Best Buccaneers vs Lions Bet: DET -6 (-115)
Super Bowl 58 Odds Before NFL Divisional Round
Super Bowl LVIII odds courtesy of BetOnline as of Tuesday, Jan. 15.
- 49ers (+175)
- Ravens (+280)
- Bills (+450)
- Chiefs (+800)
- Lions (+950)
- Packers (+2800)
- Texans (+3300)
- Buccaneers (+3300)
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Where Can I Bet On NFL Divisional Round Games?
So, where can you capitalize on these NFL Divisional Round predictions and bets?
Well, many of the top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of NFL odds throughout the season.
In addition to being able to bet on Super Bowl spread and over/under odds when the big game arrives, you can make weekly NFL picks on games all season long. Also, you can bet on major awards like NFL MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, and more at reputable sports betting sites like the ones below:
