NFL Playoffs: Three Road Teams Open As Favorites
NFL Playoffs: Three Road Teams Open As Favorites
The NFL regular season is supposed to reward teams with the best records with an advantage in the playoffs, but Vegas handicappers differ with their opinion. Of the four teams playing at home in the first round of the NFL playoffs only one is favored to win. Despite all the disparaging comments about their division, the NFC East lays claim to the only home favorite in the wild card round. The Washington Redskins are the sole lone favorite this weekend, and that is by just one point – despite the traditional three points being placed in favor of the home team. The Packer playoff mystique is long gone after last week’s home loss to the Vikings.
11-5 Kansas City Chiefs at 9-7 Houston Texans
Jan 9, 4:35 pm ET on ABC(!)
The bookies are pretty much evenly split between the Chiefs either being a 3 or 3½ point favorite.
Most point totals are at 40, with a typical Money Line at KC -180, Houston +160
10-6 Pittsburgh Steelers at 12-4 Cincinnati Bengals
Jan 9, 8:15 pm ET on CBS
Will Steel Town send Rex Ryan a thank-you gift? Before assuming Cincy will once again lose a playoff game, check out that shaky Steeler defense.
Steelers opened as 3-point favorites, but most are now at 2½ – and Treasure Island is all the way down to 1½ points.
The over/under ranges from 45½ to 47, and the average Money Line is Steelers -140, Bengals +120.
10-6 Seattle Seahawks at 11-5 Minnesota Vikings
Jan 10, 1:05 pm ET on NBC
Seattle opened as 3½-point favorites, but that quickly shot up to 5½ as the public showed no faith in Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikes to defeat the defending NFC champs. Seattle has won six of their last seven games, including last week’s thumping of 13-3 Arizona by the score of 36-6.
Most point totals are 41½, and a typical ML is Seattle -240, Minnesota +200.
10-6 Green Bay Packers at 9-7 Washington Redskins
Jan 10, 4:40 pm ET on FOX
In what would have been a shocking surprise a month ago, the Skins are favored over Green Bay. Kirk Cousins has the best passer rating in the NFL over the last half of the 2015 season, while the Pack has lost their last two games while their offensive line has struggled.
Washington is favored by a point (1½ in some places), with an over/under averaging at 45 points.
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Tags: 2015 NFL Season 2015 Playoffs ABC AFC CBS Cincinnati Bengals FOX Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Kansas City Chiefs Minnesota Vikings NBC NFC Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks television tv Washington Redskins
