News.betzone.co.uk hit a perfect three winners from as many picks in the Wildcard Round so this week’s NFL Playoffs Divisional round predictions come from a confident place. A Texans return to earth, a big-scoring matchup in Detroit and a familiar feeling in Buffalo are in the offing.
NFL Divisional Weekend best bets
Ravens (-12.5) to cover vs Texans @ 13/10
Lions vs Buccaneers over 50.5 points @ 6/5
Chiefs (+1.5) to cover @ 11/10
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Baltimore will provide loud wake up call for Texans living the dream
Baltimore finished the regular season with the best record in the NFL and they go into their Divisional Round clash with the Texans as well-rested –9.5 point favourites.
Houston have alreadyall outperformed expectations on the back of the emergence of star rookie quarterback CJ Stroud but this is where their run will come to an end and it could be worth chancing backing a more emphatic Ravens win on the alternate spread in return for bigger odds.
The Maryland outfit are 13/10 to overcome a -12.5 handicap, just as they did when beating the Texans 25-9 back in week 1. Both sides have improved loads since but Baltimore have overcome this handicap against better opponents recently – see their 33-19 week-16 win over the 49ers.
Houston have scored less than 20 in five of their seven road games so far this campaign and the fact that playing away appears to dampen their offensive enthusiasm won’t hurt our bet either.
Pick: Ravens (-12.5) to cover vs Texans @ 13/10
Get set for a points pile-up when the Bucs visit fortress Ford Field
The Detroit Lions are 5.5-point favourites to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Motor City, but they face a Bucs team that are really cooking right now with six wins in their last seven.
A better bet in this collision could be the alternate total wager of over 50.5 points, for which bettors are rewarded with odds of 6/5. Seven of Detroit’s last nine regular season outings served up 51 or more and their wildcard win over the Rams wasn’t far off, finishing 24-23.
Tampa racked up 32 points against the Eagles to win through to this stage, the fourth time they’ve bagged 30 points or more in their last six outings. That firepower should combine well with their hosts’ to serve our cause with the Lions hitting 30+ in six of their seven home games.
Pick: Lions vs Buccaneers over 50.5 points @ 6/5
Chiefs have too much post-season savvy to go off unbacked underdogs
Kansas City were one of Buffalo’s victims in the five-game streak that delivered the upstate New York side from potential ignominy to AFC East glory and the playoffs. As such it’s understandable they are chalked up as 1.5 point ‘dogs as they return to the scene of their 17-20 week-14 defeat.
However, KC are playoff experts having reached at least the AFC Championship game in each of the last five seasons, including when bouncing the Bills in both 2020 and 2021. There’s a hint of value about backing Andy Reid’s men with 1.5 point head start at odds of 11/10 as a result.
