The Wild Card Weekend saw all four home favourites win and cover the NFL spread, but a lot of bettors are seeing value in the underdogs this week. That includes QB Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, who’ve won seven straight games. They’re red-hot as they hit the road to face the No. 1 seed in the NFC: The Dallas Cowboys.
Game of the Week
Green Bay Packers @ Dallas Cowboys
Favourite: Cowboys -4
Last Sunday, the Packers thrashed the New York Giants 38-13. Aaron Rodgers threw for 362 yards, four touchdowns and another Hail Mary. The 2X MVP quarterback hasn't thrown a pick since Week 10.
The Dallas Cowboys' pass defense ranked 26th in the league during the regular season, so their best chance might be to ride their No. 2-ranked running game, powered by Ezekiel Elliott, and keep Rodgers off the field. However, the Packers do have the No. 8-ranked run defense.
The Packers are 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS in their last five against the Cowboys, who beat Green Bay 30-16 on the road in Week 6.
Game with the Biggest Spread
Houston Texans @ New England Patriots
Favourite: Patriots -16
QB Brock Osweiler returned as the starting quarterback last week and threw for 168 yards and a touchdown in Houston's 27-14 win over the Oakland Raiders. The Texans picked off rookie QB Connor Cook three times, so Osweiler didn't need to do anything special. They might need more from him against the Patriots, who are the +180 Super Bowl favourites.
Houston's defense has to be even better against QB Tom Brady and the Pats’ offense, which was fourth in total yards and third in points scored. The Texans may have the league’s No. 1 ranked defense in total yards this season, but the Patriots’ defense led the league in points allowed.
New England has historically dominated the Texans, going 7-1 SU (6-2 ATS), with five straight wins. The Patriots didn't even have Brady on the field for their 27-0 destruction of the Texans in Week 3 in New England.
Game with the Smallest Spread
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Kansas City Chiefs
Favourite: Chiefs -1
The Pittsburgh Steelers got big performances from their best players in a 30-12 win over the Miami Dolphins at home last Sunday. RB Le'Veon Bell ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns, while WR Antonio Brown added 124 yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns. Pittsburgh will need these two to put on big performances once again against the Kansas City Chiefs, who were 24th in yards allowed, but only seventh in points allowed.
The Chiefs have two major advantages in this game: returns (10th defense in the NFL in kickoff yards, first in offensive punts), and turnover differential (tied for first at +16). It also helps that head coach Andy Reid’s teams are a perfect 3-0 in the playoffs after a bye.
The Steelers are 4-1 SU (2-3 ATS) in their last five against the Chiefs, who got thumped 43-14 in Pittsburgh in Week 4. The Chiefs will be hunting for some revenge on Sunday after that Week 4 embarrassment.
*Odds as of January 12, 2017