NFL Playoffs Hurry up and Bet: 49ers, Chiefs to Cover Spread
If you want to bet on the NFL, you better do it early in the week. As we advance through the week, NFL betting lines move, so be sure that you get the best NFL odds to win your picks for the NFL this week before the market catches on. Getting the best number possible is vital because you could get a negative closing line value (CLV) if you wait.
Locking in your spread and total bets early could ultimately be the difference when the final second ticks off the clock. It’s crucial to lock in your NFL bets against the spread and total as soon as possible. The 2024 Super Bowl odds favor the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens as we head into the Divisional Round.
I’m here to take an early look at the odds for Divisional Weekend and give my early predictions on the NFL playoffs before the lines move. Wild Card weekend did not disappoint, and I’m already diving into the next round of the playoffs.
Wild Card Weekend Recap
To recap Wild Card weekend, we saw some surprising upsets and history made. The Houston Texans crushed the Cleveland Browns 45-14 as C.J. Stroud became the youngest quarterback to win a playoff game. Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs past the undermanned Miami Dolphins in the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. Due to snow, the Buffalo Bills had to wait an extra day to take care of business against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The four remaining quarterbacks in the AFC:
– CJ Stroud
– Lamar Jackson
– Patrick Mahomes
– Josh Allen pic.twitter.com/Shy1kgbtli— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 16, 2024
The Green Bay Packers shocked the Dallas Cowboys, defeating them 48-32 and handing Dallas its first loss at home in 16 games. Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers notched the home upset over the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The best story of the weekend came out of Motor City when the Detroit Lions won their second playoff game since 1957 and their first in 32 years. Detroit defeated Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in a thrilling 24-23 game. Now, we’re turning our attention to the next round of the playoffs and the four games scheduled.
Looking ahead to NFL playoff lines, we’re attempting to get the best number for our picks for Divisional Round weekend. In the playoffs, the quarterback position is under the microscope. Who will help their team advance to the AFC and NFC Championships? I’m here to give you my best NFL bets today for the NFL playoffs.
49ers Rested, Ready
When the NFL playoff race was heating up, few people were expecting the Green Bay Packers to reach the playoffs. The Packers did just that and delivered one of the most surprising upsets in recent playoff memory in the Wild Card round. Waiting for them in the Divisional Round is only the team that has spent most of the season as the Super Bowl favorite.
Jordan Love when targeting past the sticks during Wild Card Weekend:
🎯 96.3 PFF Grade
🎯 9 completions
🎯 210 passing yards
🎯 3 TDs pic.twitter.com/9dwwec9W3h— PFF (@PFF) January 16, 2024
The San Francisco 49ers are coming into the Divisional Round well-rested after sitting most of their starters in Week 18. The Packers are the playoff darlings right now, but the Niners don’t care.
The 49ers will run the ball and run the ball some more against the Packers. San Fran had the second-highest run rate and will chew up the clock, keeping the ball out of the hands of one of the NFL’s hottest quarterbacks, Jordan Love. Green Bay’s Swiss cheese run defense ranked in the bottom three in the NFL during the season, feeding right into Kyle Shanhan’s play-calling.
The Packers’ defense ranked 28th in defensive DVOA, and the 49ers ranked fourth on the opposite end of the spectrum. The recency bias for the Packers allows us to get this inside the key number of 10. The last 10 wins by the Niners have been by at least 10 points, and they have scored at least 27 points in all 12 victories this season.
Bet the Super Bowl favorites to cover the spread on Saturday.
NFL Divisional Round Pick: 49ers -10 vs Packers
Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes?
This matchup is what dreams are made of. There were times in November when we all questioned whether the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs were genuine contenders this season, and here we are. We get Patrick Mahomes in his first career playoff game on the road next Sunday night against Josh Allen and the Bills at Highmark Stadium.
Mahomes has a tremendous track record in the playoffs. He has been an underdog 10 times in his entire career. He has gone 8-1-1 against the spread and has won seven of those games outright. The only time he was an underdog in the playoffs came in last year’s Super Bowl against the Eagles. He has gone 10-5 ATS in the playoffs.
Due to the Bills’ Wild Card game getting pushed back to Monday, they face a short week of preparation. The Chiefs have a significant rest advantage, having played on Saturday. The Bills defeated Kansas City back in Week 14 at Arrowhead, but they were outplayed. If it weren’t for a rare offensive offside penalty on Kadarius Toney, the Chiefs would have likely won. The Bills have a litany of injuries on the defensive side, which could ultimately be the difference.
This will be the seventh meeting between the two superstar quarterbacks and the first playoff matchup since the insane 42-36 overtime game two years ago. Selecting the winner is a coin flip, as they have gone 3-3 in their previous matchups. So, take the points for the Chiefs at the key number and expect another historic game.
NFL Divisional Round Pick: Chiefs +3 at Buffalo Bills
Question Of The Day
How has the Packers’ defense performed against high-scoring teams?
The Packers’ defense has played poorly this season against high-scoring teams and even low-scoring teams.
