NFL Wild Card Weekend Odds: Betting Preview At WV Sportsbooks

Get ready for an exciting betting extravaganza! This weekend, online sports bettors from Mountain State can indulge in a wide array of NFL playoffs options.

This year, an additional playoff team has been included in each conference, resulting in three games scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday. This marks an increase of one game compared to previous postseasons. Here is the lineup:

Saturday

The Buffalo Bills, who are hosting the game, will start as the favored team by approximately one touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

In the second match, the Seattle Seahawks will be hosting the Los Angeles Rams, with the odds leaning towards a moderately close encounter. Seattle aims to secure another victory against the Rams, just as they did two weeks ago with a 20-9 triumph in Week 16.

As the night game draws to a close, the Washington Football Team takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the clear underdogs.

Sunday

The opening game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans could be the highlight of the weekend.

In the second leg, when hosting the Chicago Bears, the New Orleans Saints emerge as the top favorite among all teams.

How fitting it is to wrap it up with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns facing each other once again, this time in the playoffs and in Pittsburgh on Sunday night.

DraftKings head hails staggered schedule

According to Johnny Avello, the director of race and sportsbook operations for DraftKings, he anticipates that the daily games will generate betting activity equivalent to a complete NFL regular-season menu.

“I adore the way these games are spaced out,” Avello expressed. “It allows bettors to witness the conclusion of one game and still have sufficient time to place bets on the next one, rather than having an unfinished game overlapping with the upcoming one.”

The Bills will be heavily favored on Saturday as they are currently playing exceptional football. On the flip side, despite Philip Rivers’ numerous achievements in the NFL, he has yet to claim any Super Bowl rings or trophies. This upcoming game may be his final opportunity to leave a lasting impact.

Avello cautioned against placing excessive confidence in the Washington-Tampa Bay matchup when placing bets.

It has become widely expected that the Buccaneers will dominate in the upcoming playoff game against Washington, as the hosts are given more than a touchdown advantage. The Bucs boast 11 wins compared to Washington’s seven, and Tom Brady’s exceptional performance in the past four weeks, with 12 touchdowns and only one interception, further solidifies their favoritism.

However, the teams have a purpose for suiting up.

“This is what I refer to as a buyer beware game,” Avello remarked. “Upon conducting some research, it becomes apparent that out of Tampa Bay’s 11 wins, only one came against a team that made the playoffs.”

The team in Washington has an exceptional defense and is steadily improving. Surpassing expectations, they have managed to win seven games. At this point, they are playing with a surplus of confidence and freedom, as they have already exceeded their initial projections.

According to Avello, the Ravens-Titans game has the potential to be the most thrilling matchup of the weekend. With two exceptional rushing attacks and exciting players in key positions, the scoreboard could be set ablaze with excitement.

Avello mentioned that the Browns face a challenging task in defeating the Steelers twice; however, he believes that this game will be more closely contested than anticipated.

Cleveland finally in the playoffs

There was an initial spark of drama in the Browns-Steelers game.

The significance of a absent quarterback is well understood. It typically amounts to about three points for most cases, yet it can escalate to nine points when referring to exceptional players like Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers or Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs.

The value of a coach may be equivalent to approximately 1.5 points.

The line revealed on Tuesday caused an initial reaction when it was announced that Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who led the team to their first playoff appearance in almost two decades, has been sidelined due to COVID-19.

Mike Priefer, the special teams coordinator, will now step into the role of head coach.

Upon receiving the news, the line swiftly surged from Pittsburgh -4.5 to -6.

The coach serves as the central hub for communication, a source of motivation, a guiding force, and the decision-maker for plays. It can be argued that their impact goes beyond just 1.5 points. A prime example is when several members of the Detroit Lions coaching staff were absent during the Week 16 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, resulting in a devastating loss of 40 points for the Lions.

They were previously receiving 7-10 odds at different sportsbooks, which is very different from what they are currently getting.

Similar to Washington, the Browns could also be playing with extra funds.

In the season finale, they were fortunate to receive a gift as the Steelers chose to rest key players, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Cleveland was in need of assistance to secure a win, but managed to clinch a narrow 24-22 victory. This was made possible by Pittsburgh’s failure to convert a late two-point attempt, which would have resulted in a tie game.

However, the Browns managed to keep their season alive by notching a crucial victory. The team had shown great potential, and not making it to the playoffs would have been a major disappointment. With numerous favorable elements in their favor, both Browns fans and bettors were expecting a rewarding outcome.

This encompasses the rise of quarterback Baker Mayfield, as well as the NFL’s most formidable running back pair, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Additionally, it encompasses the exceptional receiving abilities of Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, complemented by the reliability of tight end Austin Hooper.

The Dallas Cowboys were defeated by the Browns, who managed to score an impressive 49 points. In the first half, Cleveland dominated with a commanding 38-7 lead, ultimately securing their victory against the Tennessee Titans, the champions of the AFC South division. They also came close to defeating the Ravens, only to be met with an unexpected and thrilling Monday night finish. Throughout the season, the Browns demonstrated their offensive prowess by scoring over 30 points in seven different games, with three of those games exceeding 40 points.

This team successfully secured a path to the postseason, putting an end to a lengthy wait in Cleveland. The entire city is abuzz with excitement that has been building up over the course of a week.

The Browns are currently in pursuit of a bonus – achieving their first postseason victory since 1994, when Bill Belichick was their coach.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Back to normal

Sunday’s loss is being perceived by the Steelers as a close victory.

Mason Rudolph, the quarterback, showcased his excellence by leading two scoring drives during the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, he fell just short of tying the game with a two-point conversion in the late stages.

Having Ben Roethlisberger back now is a significant advantage. In hindsight, it was a wise decision to rest him and other players. To make their game against Cleveland meaningful, Pittsburgh would have required the Miami Dolphins to defeat the Buffalo Bills, but unfortunately, Buffalo emerged victorious with a score of 56-26.

In Week 16 against the Colts, it was Roethlisberger and the receiving corps, led by Diontae Johnson, who orchestrated an impressive comeback for the Steelers. Initially trailing 24-7 and appearing lackluster, the game took a turn when Johnson executed an outstanding touchdown catch, sparking the team’s resurgence. With unwavering determination, the Steelers persevered and emerged victorious with a final score of 28-24.

Over the past fortnight, they experienced a victory that boosted their confidence and a defeat that left them disheartened.

The Steelers offense has made significant progress, at least in preparation for a single game.

Johnson continues to be the receiver with the highest level of reliability and could be utilized extensively in yardage and scoring propositions.

Ravens-Titans: A ground matchup like no other

You don’t want to miss this game, as the Ravens have a slight advantage while playing away.

The Titans’ Derrick Henry, a dominant rushing champion known as the Beast, is set to face off against the Ravens, led by the talented Lamar Jackson. Spectators anticipate both teams to showcase their offensive prowess, as they are likely to make significant progress up and down the field.

Last week, the Ravens achieved an incredible feat by accumulating an impressive 404 rushing yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone, as it has been two decades since any NFL team has achieved this remarkable record.

Last weekend, Henry achieved an impressive milestone of reaching 2,000 yards for the season, while also delivering a series of electrifying runs.

Although the Ravens are currently performing at a higher level, one might question if the Titans have a certain advantage over them. Last year, Tennessee surprised everyone by eliminating the Ravens from the playoffs, despite Baltimore’s impressive 14-2 record. Additionally, earlier this season, the Titans managed to defeat the Ravens in overtime.

In terms of intangibles, Baltimore possesses a solid defense, while Tennessee lacks in that department. The Ravens boast the exceptional skills of kicker Justin Tucker, widely regarded as the finest in the game. Conversely, the Titans have struggled with their kicking game throughout the year, which has been a weakness for them.

Saints expected to romp

The most significant point difference displayed on the board is for the New Orleans game, with a staggering -10 in favor of New Orleans against the Chicago Bears.

With their efficient gameplay, the Saints operate like a finely tuned machine. It is highly anticipated that their defense will successfully execute a significant play against the Bears, who managed to secure a playoff spot with their 8-8 record.

Packers and Chiefs wait

The defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers, have earned a well-deserved break during their bye week. Both teams secured the sole bye in their respective conferences, granting them a first-round victory.

Next weekend, they will both confront the lowest-seeded team that managed to survive Week 1 of the NFL playoffs.