2017 NFL Playoffs – Wild Card Betting Tips
Welcome back to another edition of BetKing Best Bets for the 2016-17 NFL Season. This week we bring you previews and tips for a few massive games which kick off the start of this season’s playoffs. Four teams have the week off in the wildcard round and await the winners of these four games. We went a disappointing 1-2 in last weeks picks, taking our season tally to 30-20-1.
This week should provide more consistent betting though, as most of last weeks games proved to be dead rubbers. However, I’m choosing not to touch the Houston vs Oakland game, because that really is a battle of two teams who shouldn’t be in the playoffs and anything could happen.
Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, 12.15pm AEDT)
The Lions stumbled over the playoff line, after a loss on Sunday meaning only a Washington loss to the Giants would see them advance to the wildcard round. Luckily for them, that eventuated, now they have the daunting task of travelling to Seattle. If you look at Seattles season on paper you’d think they haven’t had one of the more dominant seasons that we have become accustomed to seeing from them. However, their home record is still a staggering 7-1 record, proving that the 13th man is still well and truly alive.
It’ll be a difficult task for the Lions to go into Seattle and overcome a hyped up Seahawks crowd, made even more difficult by the fact that star QB Matt Stafford is carrying a finger injury on his throwing hand. Detroit have been favoured by their schedule this year and it’s a big reason why they just crept into the playoffs. Seattle is a cut above them, especially at home. I’m not a massive fan of taking any lines over a TD however, so I’ll be adjusting this line down to 6.5 which still offers some decent value.
TIP: Seattle Seahawks -6.5 – $1.71 at CrownBet
Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 5.05am AEDT)
In my opionion, Pittsburgh have honestly been one of the most overrated teams in the NFL this year. They have won their last 7 games, but there have been some close games and some miraculous last drive victories. Their 7 on the trot have come against, Cleveland, Indi, New York Giants, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Baltimore and another against Cleveland… in overtime. Those wins wouldn’t instil a lot of confidence in my if I was a Pittsburgh fan. There’s also the issue of Big Ben having been under an injury cloud most of the year (and most of his career, if we are honest) which doesn’t bode well for the Steelers.
The Dophins on the other hand have had solid wins against the Cardinals and Chargers, as well as a week 6 win over the Steelers themselves. Back QB to Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore has been getting better and better with every passing game and running back Jay Ajayi has been the breakout player of the year. The line is 3 points to much in my opinion and I like the Dolphins to cover, if not win this one.
TIP: Miami Dolphins +10 – $2.10 at CrownBet
New York Giants at Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 8.40am AEDT)
Mark my words, the Giants have plenty of tricks up their sleeves here. I find it really difficult to bet against a team that has the best genuine game breaker in the league, in Odell Beckham Jr of New York. It only takes him one play to turn a game on it’s head, and I think his workload will be increased significantly now the playoffs has arrived. Don’t be surprised to see him returning punts and kicks, hell I’d let him kick the extra point. Combine him with Stirling Shepard and Victor Cruz and you have a recipe for one of the best receiving cores in the game.
On the other side of the ball is Aaron Rodgers, who, despite getting off to a slow start to the season, has proved why many think he’s the best QB in the league by having an MVP back half and leading his team to a 6-0 finish. Much like the Steelers, however, the Green Bay wins don’t instil a lot of confidence. Apart from a 38-10 demolishing of Seattle, their wins have come at the hands of Philly, Houston, Chicago, Minnesota and Detroit. This is a 50-50 game in my opinion, Green Bay might have the slight edge being at home, but since I’ve boldly picked the Giants to win the NFC, I’ll take them in an upset here.
