The NFL regular season has concluded with 14 teams left alive to fight for the Lombardi Trophy. Super Wild Card weekend kicks off Saturday with two matchups, followed by three on Sunday, and one on Monday night. Kansas City and Philadelphia, winners of each conference’s no. 1 seed, will enjoy the Wild Card from the comfort of their own homes.
In our NFL Playoff picks for Wild Card Weekend, we take a look at the best bets to make in each of the six games.
Seahawks at 49ers: Point Spread, Total, Moneyline
Super Wild Card weekend starts off with the first of three divisional rematches. Seattle has been one of the league’s surprise teams behind the resurgence of quarterback Geno Smith. They’ll have an uphill battle as double-digit underdogs to the San Francisco 49ers.
Here are current odds from top sportsbook apps.
NFL · Thu (9/7) @ 8:22pm ET
| DET Lions | at | KC Chiefs |
| Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||
NFL Playoff Pick: Seahawks at 49ers
The 49ers are riding a 10-game winning streak heading into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed. The Seahawks, however, were expected to be the worst in the NFC West but got off to a fast 6-3 start. They slumped down the stretch, going just 3-5 to close out the final eight games of the regular season.
San Francisco won and covered in both games against Seattle this season, beating them at home 27-7 in September and 21-13 in Week 14. The 49ers have the Seahawks’ number and should continue their dominance in the third matchup.
Seahawks vs. 49ers Pick: 49ers -9.5
More analysis: Seahawks vs. 49ers odds, prediction
Chargers at Jaguars Betting Lines
The Jaguars are one of the season’s surprise playoff teams, bouncing back from a 2-6 start to win the AFC South and a home playoff game. Chargers vs. Jags odds have the visitors as slight favorites, with a total in the high 40s.
NFL · Thu (9/7) @ 8:22pm ET
| DET Lions | at | KC Chiefs |
| Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||
Chargers vs. Jaguars Best Bets
Los Angeles opted not to rest their starters in a meaningless Week 17 bout against the Broncos. Standout receiver Mike Williams suffered a back injury, although the Chargers are optimistic he will play Wild Card weekend. If he’s not at 100%, that would be a huge detriment to quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers passing offense.
The Chargers have been one of the NFL’s most suspect rush defenses this year, allowing a league-worst 5.4 yards per rush. Expect the Jaguars to exploit this behind standout running back Travis Etienne. If the Jags can get Etienne going, they can control the pace of the game and keep Herbert on the sideline.
These teams are relatively even on paper, but our Wild Card predictions like the Jags at home. As a home underdog this season, Jacksonville is 4-0. With a Super Bowl-winning head coach in Doug Pederson, the Jags got hot at the right time and can make some noise in the playoffs – not unlike the Bengals last year.
Consider adding the Under to your Wild Card weekend bets as well, especially if the Jaguars succeed in rushing the ball down a porous Chargers defensive front.
Chargers vs. Jaguars Picks: Jags +1.5, Under 47.5
Also read: Predicting the NFL Playoff Bracket
Dolphins at Bills Spread, Over/Under, ML
Throughout the middle half of the season, the Dolphins looked to be the Bills’ biggest challenge in the AFC East. Miami snapped a five-game skid against the Jets to secure the final seed in the playoffs.
With Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ruled out, the point spread skyrocketed in the Bills’ direction over their AFC East rival, and the total has ticked downward. Buffalo, meanwhile, enters the playoffs how most pundits expected – as one of the biggest challengers for the Lombardi Trophy.
NFL · Thu (9/7) @ 8:22pm ET
| DET Lions | at | KC Chiefs |
| Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||
Dolphins vs. Bills Playoff Pick
The Bills enter this matchup with all the momentum against a Fins team that limped into the postseason. Ten points, however, seems too much and the over is the safer bet. Expect Josh Allen and the Bills to take advantage of a Miami defense that has allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game.
The over is 7-2 in Miami road games and the Bills have gone over in four out of seven home games this season. In our NFL Wild Card predictions, there won’t be any shortage of points in the Dolphins vs. Bills game.
Dolphins vs. Bills Pick: Over 43.5
Giants at Vikings Betting Lines
Another rematch of a regular season clash, the Giants head to Minneapolis to take on the Vikings in the first round. The Vikings, holders of the third seed, beat the Giants 27-24 back in Week 16 with a last-minute 61-yard field goal. Similar to the first matchup, bookmakers have the Giants vs. Vikings spread listed as a field goal difference.
NFL · Thu (9/7) @ 8:22pm ET
| DET Lions | at | KC Chiefs |
| Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||
NFL Playoff Pick: Giants vs. Vikings
Minnesota finished 13-4 on their way to securing the NFC North division but did so with a -3 point differential on the season. The Vikings have prevailed in most of their close, one-score games but their losses have mostly been embarrassing blowouts.
New York booked their playoff trip behind sound fundamentals brought over by new head coach Brian Daboll paired with solid, mistake-free football from quarterback Daniel Jones. The 9-7-1 Giants enter the playoffs as the sixth seed and also have a negative point differential, but they went an impressive 13-4 ATS this season – the best mark in the league.
The Vikings have perhaps the worst defensive unit of all 14 playoff teams and solid defense is typically the difference-maker in January football. Minnesota’s secondary has been gashed all year, allowing the second-most passing yards per game. The Giants air attack isn’t as high-powered as other playoff teams, but if they manage to limit an explosive Vikings offense, they should be able to exploit the poor Vikings defense, control the tempo, and keep it a one-score game down the stretch.
Minnesota has been the come-back kids all year, but in our Super Wild Card weekend predictions, we like the Giants to keep it close.
Giants vs. Vikings Pick: Giants +3
More on New York: Giants NFL’s Best ATS
Ravens at Bengals Betting Lines
No coin flip was needed to determine the host of this AFC North rematch, which would have been the case if the Ravens pulled off the upset in the regular season finale against the Bengals. Cincinnati, the AFC North winner, is a touchdown favorite over the visiting Ravens.
NFL · Thu (9/7) @ 8:22pm ET
| DET Lions | at | KC Chiefs |
| Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||
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Ravens vs. Bengals Wild Card Best Bet
The Ravens and Bengals split their regular-season games, with Baltimore winning the first matchup 19-17 in Week 5 and the Bengals getting the victory last week 27-16.
The status of former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson is the big question ahead of the Sunday night Wild Card matchup. Even if Jackson suits up, it’s doubtful he’ll be anywhere close to 100%.
The Bengals enter the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the AFC and are 12-4 against the spread. Led by quarterback Joe Burrow, the defending AFC champions are loaded on offense with standout receiver Ja’Marr Chase and running back Joe Mixon. It’ll be too much for an injury-ridden Ravens team to overcome. One of our best bets of Wild Card weekend, we like the Bengals to cover.
Ravens vs. Bengals Pick: Cincy -7
More: Early Odds Moves for Wild Card Weekend
Cowboys at Buccaneers Betting Lines
Down the stretch, it seemed like nobody wanted the NFC South title. Tom Brady and Bucs ultimately secured the division win and fourth seed despite finishing the season with a losing record. They’ll host the best of the Wild Card teams, the 12-5 Cowboys, in the first round. Oddsmakers have the visitors favored by less than a field goal, with the Cowboys vs. Bucs total in the mid-40s.
NFL · Thu (9/7) @ 8:22pm ET
| DET Lions | at | KC Chiefs |
| Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | ||
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Cowboys vs. Bucs Pick
The Buccaneers offense struggled to find a rhythm throughout most of the season, despite the GOAT at quarterback and a roster including talented skill players Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Rachaad White. Their biggest weakness has been on the offensive line, which will not get an easy matchup Monday – the Cowboys’ 3.2 sacks per game is the second-best rate in the league.
Our Cowboys vs. Bucs prediction likes the visitors to cover the field goal spread Monday night. Tom Brady – and perhaps the Cowboys penchant to choke in the playoffs – is why the line is set so short. We’ll take the ‘Boys to advance with a win and to cover the short spread.
Cowboys vs Buccaneers Pick: Cowboys -2.5
Updated prices: Super Bowl 57 odds
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