Super Wild Card Weekend is upon us as the road to Super Bowl LVII begins in earnest. For the first time since 2009, every game this weekend is a rematch of a regular season encounter. Because of this familiarity, fans wagering on these upcoming matchups should know which teams to place their bets on.
With the postseason just days away, let's look at the opening lines and see which teams the oddsmakers favor to move on to the Divisional Round. Here's breaking down all the matchups available with another detailed fearless forecast:
The 49ers knocked off the Seahawks twice during the regular season and have won 10 consecutive games heading into the postseason. San Francisco has won eight of nine games at home and boasts one of the league's top defensive units. The Seahawks closed out the regular season with two straight wins and limited the 49ers to just seven second-half points in a 21-13 loss in Week 15. The NFC West Champion was 11-6 against the spread and will attack Seattle's 30th-ranked run defense with the backfield tandem of Elijah Mitchell and Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers will advance to the second round after a tougher-than-expected battle over the upset-minded Seahawks.
Pick: 49ers win 24-20 but fail to cover the spread.
The Jaguars blew out Los Angeles Chargers 38-10 on the road in Week 3 and are riding a five-game winning streak. Second-year running back Travis Etienne finished ninth in the NFL with 1,125 yards and will lead the rushing attack against the Chargers' 28th-ranked run defense. Justin Herbert will have both of his top pass-catchers, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, on Saturday and is in a great spot opposite Jacksonville's bottom-five pass defense. This matchup has the potential to turn into a shootout, but the Chargers, which were 11-5-1 against the spread, will notch the road win and move on to the Divisional Round.
Pick: Chargers win 27-20 and cover the spread.
The Bills are rolling with seven consecutive wins and are averaging 34 points per game in their last three outings. Josh Allen tossed 35 touchdowns and directs a high-octane offense that ranks second with 407 yards per game and tallied 30-plus points in eight games. However, the Bills are just 8-7-1 against the spread. The Dolphins split two matchups against Buffalo but could be without Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and Raheem Mostert (broken thumb) on Sunday. Miami has dropped five of its past six games and is just 3-6 on the road. Allen will carve up the Dolphins' 27th-ranked pass defense and begin their march to the AFC Championship Game.
Pick: Bills win 34-17 and cover the spread.
The Vikings edged the Giants in Week 16 but is a Jekyll and Hyde squad that is 3-2 in their last five games. Justin Jefferson led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 receiving yards and caught 12 balls for 133 yards and a touchdown against New York last month. The Giants are well-rested and posted more total yards (445 to 353) than Minnesota in their first encounter. New York is 13-4 against the spread, while the Vikings are 7-9-1. But Minnesota won eight of nine games at home during the regular season and will squeak past the feisty Giants in a nailbiter.
Pick: Vikings win 27-24 and cover the spread.
The Bengals won eight straight games to close out the regular season, and Joe Burrow set a career-high with 35 touchdown passes for one of the league's top-five passing attacks. Cincinnati is 12-3-1 against the spread and has limited opponents to 20 or fewer points in nine games. The Ravens limped into the playoffs with three losses in their past four games and have struggled mightily on offense without Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose status for Sunday's matchup remains in limbo. Even if Jackson returns after not practicing in more than a month, Burrow & Co. should roll into the second round with a victory over their AFC North nemesis.
Pick: Bengals win 24-16 and cover the spread.
The Cowboys finished the regular season with an ugly loss to the Commanders, and quarterback Dak Prescott has thrown an interception in 10 of 12 games. Dallas' two-headed backfield of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard combined for nearly 1,900 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns and will look to attack the Buccaneers' 15th-ranked run defense. Tampa Bay has a non-existent running game and will put the ball in Tom Brady's hand to knock off Dallas. The Cowboys are vulnerable to the pass, but cornerback Trevon Diggs has enjoyed past success against wideout Mike Evans. Dallas is 9-7-1 against the spread and should bounce back with a solid outing Monday night to advance to the Divisional Round.
Pick: Cowboys win 27-17 and cover spread.
