NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks
The Saints could be a lock as a huge favorite this weekend as the NFL playoffs kick off.
New Orleans at Seattle (+10.5)
Line available at Bodog
In Week 11 the Saints obliterated the Seahawks 34-19 as an 11-point home favorite. No offense to Seattle fans, but the Seahawks shouldn't even be in the playoffs with their awful 7-9 record. Not only do the Seahawks have the worst record of all the playoff teams, but they have also scored the fewest points this season (310) and their defense has allowed the most points (407).
Not only do the Saints totally outclass the Seahawks on offense (No. 6 vs. No. 28), but they're also ahead of them by a mile on defense as well with the No. 4 unit in the league compared to Seattle's 27th-ranked D.
Pick: New Orleans -10.5 in a total rout.
NY Jets at Indianapolis (-2.5)
Line available at BetUS
The Colts ended the Jets' playoff run last season with a 30-17 win in the AFC Championship. This year the Jets should get some payback in the Colts' backyard.
Indianapolis finished the regular season off strong with four straight wins, but they weren't exactly knocking off the NFL's finest. Out of those four wins only one came against a team with a winning record (Jacksonville) and two came against a Titans' squad that had one win in their last nine games. Ever worse for bettors is that the Colts went 2-2 ATS in those games and failed to cover in both wins against the Titans.
The real difference-maker this weekend should be the Jets' defense. Offensively the Jets are an inconsistent bunch and they've leaned on their No. 3 ranked defense more than once this season. The Colts' defense has been M.I.A. most of the season, which is why they rank No. 20 in the league. Since the Jets don't need to cover a spread as the underdog this week even if they win by two points they'll pay off bettors.
Pick: Jets +2.5
Baltimore at Kansas City (+3)
Line available at Sportsbook.com
We also predict an upset this weekend when the Chiefs host the Colts.
After bolstering their receiving corps with Anquan Boldin this was supposed be the Ravens' year, wasn't it? Then why did they score 34 fewer points than last season? I don't have a lot of faith in Joe Flacco's abilities right now against a Chiefs defense that is underrated.
The Chiefs have been surprising people all season and that should continue this weekend as a 3-point home underdog. Kansas City was 7-1 SU at Arrowhead this season and that includes a pair of SU victories as the underdog.
Pick: Kansas City +3