It promises to be an exciting weekend in the NFL this week as just eight teams 
remain in contention for a chance to win Superbowl LIII in February. After the Wildcard Weekend saw the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears seasons come to an end, four teams from the AFC and four from the NFC will battle it out over the next fortnight for a place in the Superbowl in Atlanta.
As we reach the business end of the NFL season, interest in the teams and the betting always hots up and if you fancy a flutter on the game, then this is the article for you. We are going to preview each of the four Divisional Playoff games this weekend, giving you our tip to win as well as looking at who is the best bet to win the Superbowl, based on the current odds with bet365 Sport.
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Let’s now take a quick look at how the results went in Wildcard Weekend, before we preview the four Divisional Playoff game this Saturday and Sunday.
Wildcard Weekend
Indianapolis Colts 21-7 Houston Texans
Andrew Luck and the Colts defence were the stars of this superb victory over their AFC South rivals, the Houston Texans. The Colts offensive line deserve particular credit, dealing with the Texan’s star-studded defensive line in superb fashion to give Luck the time to pick apart the Texans secondary. A fine defensive action in the second half was enough to earn the Colts a very impressive victory. Luck and Co seem to be hitting peak form at just the right time.
Seattle Seahawks 22-24 Dallas Cowboys
This was a back and forth encounter in Dallas but in the end it was the Cowboys who became the only home team in Wildcard Weekend to make it through to the Divisional Playoffs. The teams were well matches in almost all areas of the game, but Seattle’s inability to convert on third down (just 15% were converted in the game) eventually proved to be the telling factor, as did a star performance by Dallas quarterback Dax Prescott, who rushed and passed for a touchdown, becoming the first Dallas qb to do so in the playoffs in the process.
Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 Baltimore Ravens
For a long time this looked like being a canter for the Chargers as they raced into a strong and commanding lead against the Ravens who only got onto the scoresheet in the third quarter. However, Lamar Jackson inspired a fine fourth quarter comeback, but ultimately the Ravens fell short when the quarterback was stripped of the ball by Ingram resulting in the crucial turnover which allowed the Chargers to run out the clock.
Philadelphia Eagles 16-15 Chicago Bears
The biggest drama of the weekend came in Chicago where Cody Parkey was the unwitting villain of the piece. Having nailed three scores for the Bears, with 10 seconds remaining on the clock, Parkey attempted a game-winninng 49 yard field goal, only to see his kick partially blocked by Hester. The ball then hit the post and the cross bar, before bouncing into the end zone, giving the Eagles a narrow victory and a place in the Divisional Playoff.
Divisional Playoff Preview and Tips
Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs
Spread – Chiefs –5.5 (10/11)
Total – Over 57.0 (10/11)
Money Line – Chiefs (20/47)
I’ve been very impressed with the Colts in the post-season and in their final game against the Titans and I see enough for them to stand a decent chance against the Chiefs. Kansas City do have a tendency to underperform in the playoffs but I think this season could well be different.
The reason for that is rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has taken this explosive offense on to a new level. Â The sheer number of points the Chiefs score, allied to a frenzied home support, will likely be the key difference in this game.
I can see plenty of points being scored in this one as two offences go head to head, but even so, I still feel the Chiefs will land the win by around seven to ten points.
Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Rams
Spread – Rams -7.0 (20/23)
Total – Over 49.5 (10/11)
Money Line – Rams (2/7)
I felt that the Los Angeles Rams underachieved a little last season in the playoffs, but I think this is the year when they will put that right. Their defense is a real concern though but I am not sure that the Dallas Cowboys are a team that can really take full advantage of that.
Dax Prescott was excellent last week against Seattle but I think he may struggle for time on the field against this Rams offensive juggernaut. As such, I feel the Cowboys may always be playing catch up, which I think means the Rams defense may only need one or two key plays in order to land the win.
So for me, this is a game that I think will see plenty of points but which will ultimately see the home side move on to the NFC Championship game next weekend.
Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots
Spread – Los Angeles Chargers +4.0 (10/11)
Total – Under 45.5 (10/11)
Money Line – Los Angeles Chargers – (17/10)
New England at home in the winter usually means another W in the win column for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick but I have some real concerns over whether this New England team, who for an 11-5 team are pretty ordinary, can get the job done here.
New England fans will be praying for colder weather to scupper the chances of the Chargers who have emerged as one of the top teams in the NFL this season. However with the experienced Philip Rivers in good form and Melvin Gordon superb at running back, I think they have the weapons to cause New England’s defense all kinds of problems.
This will be close and perhaps a tighter affair than the other games this weekend but I am backing the Chargers to pull off what would be an upset win.
Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Spread – Saints -7.5 (20/23)
Total – Over 50.5 (10/11)
Money Line – New Orleans Saints (10/39)
The Philadelphia Eagles have made a good fist of defending their Superbowl title won last year but I think their quest will come to an end on Sunday against the team, that for me, was the most consistent in the NFL this past season.
The Saints have beaten some top quality teams to earn the top seed spot in the NFC and I can’t see them relinquishing that right here. The Eagles, even with Nick Foles in good form, are going to find the Saints a level or two above the Chicago Bears team that they narrowly beat last week.
With Drew Brees still in great shape and a real contender for season MVP, I am backing the Saints to land the win here relatively comfortably.
Who Wins Superbowl LIII?
With eight teams left, the current odds on each team to win the Superbowl are as follows:
- New Orleans Saints – 12/5
- Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs – 4/1
- New England Patriots – 11/2
- Los Angeles Chargers – 10/1
- Indianapolis Colts – 12/1
- Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles – 18/1
While I can see why the Saints are the favourites, my favourite each way bet would be the Chargers at 10/1, while my pick for a win bet would be the Los Angeles Rams at 4/1.
Worried about your gambling?