Sportsbooks Eye Bigger NFC Playoff Handle

The NFL Wild Card scheduling is decided, with the Houston Texans traveling to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers in the AFC after Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore 26-24 tonight in an exciting game that ended with rookie Tyler Loop of the Ravens missing a last-second field goal to eliminate the Ravens from the postseason.

The No. 6 Buffalo Bills will play the No. 3 Jaguars in Jacksonville on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, while the No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers will travel to New England to play the No. 2 Patriots on Sunday at 8 p.m. EST. The top seed and bye went to the Denver Broncos. On Monday at 8 p.m. EST, the No. 5 Texans take on the No. 4 Steelers.

The Seattle Seahawks have a bye and the top seed in the NFC. The No. 6 San Francisco 49ers will play the No. 3 Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. EST, while the No. 7 Green Bay Packers will play the No. 2 Bears in Chicago on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. The fifth L.A. The Rams will meet the No. 4 Panthers in Carolina on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. EST.

 

Seahawks and Broncos Earn Byes

"We will see the Rams as a big favorite against the Panthers despite losing to them in Charlotte a few short weeks ago,” said Joey Feazel, Head of Football at Caesars Sportsbook. “Packers versus Bears is going to drive a lot of action, and the Eagles versus 49ers will also be a game with a lot of bets and eyeballs on the game. On the AFC side, we expect the Bills and Jaguars to drive a lot of action.

“We expect to need the Rams and Packers to falter in round 1 and expect there to be more handle on the NFC side of the playoffs for the first round.”

 

Early Odds for NFL Betting

Rams -600, Panthers +440; Packers -115, Bears -105; Bills -118, Jaguars -102; Eagles -192, 49ers +160; Patriots -185, Chargers +154, Texans -162, Steelers +136.

Rams -620, Panthers +460; Packers -108, Bears -108; Bills -116, Jaguars -102; Eagles -192, 49ers +160; Patriots -210, Chargers +176, Texans -166, Steelers +140.

“Saturday, with the low-scoring game and both underdogs getting across the line, was good for the book. Sunday was a mixed bag of results with a lot of meaningless games taking place,” said Feazel.