For the second part of our NFL playoff preview, we discuss the Sunday Wild Card tilts, including the spread for each game. Make sure to check out the full list of NFL lines and props at Bodog Sportsbook when you bet on NFL, as this weekend promises to deliver plenty of intrigue. Let’s get right to it.
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
Favourite: Saints -7
The second NFC Wild Card matchup will be played in The Big Easy where the fifth-seed Carolina Panthers come to town to take on the fourth-seed New Orleans Saints in their first-ever postseason matchup. Playing in the NFC South and going up against each other twice a season, these two squads are very well acquainted with each other.
The Saints (+750 Super Bowl 52 odds) will be relying on their big playmakers on offense in Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara, and Michael Thomas to put points on the board. Traditionally, the Saints have been vulnerable on the defensive side of the ball, but no such luck for their opponents this year, as Sean Payton’s defensive unit ranks tenth in the league in points against at just 20.4. Carolina gives up the same amount of points, but their offense is less potent and creative, often relying on Cam Newton’s brute strength to overpower opponents.
The Panthers (+2500 Super Bowl 2018 odds) score 5.3 fewer points per game than their opponent, which is why the NFL playoff odds favour Drew Brees and company by a touchdown. Brees is also favoured to throw for the most passing yards this weekend at +300 odds. With that being said, Carolina will be motivated looking for revenge, having lost both regular season meetings to their conference foe with neither being a close call. Make sure to tune in and witness the bad blood between these two rosters.
Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Favourite: Jaguars -9
Counting their lucky stars for making the playoffs, the Buffalo Bills are sending 1,440 chicken wings to the Cincinnati Bengals for beating the Ravens in Week 17 and clearing the playoff path for the Bills (ESPN report). The scrappy Bills, sixth-seed in the AFC, are seemingly overmatched going up against the third-seed Jacksonville Jaguars who had a fantastic 10-6 season, finishing in the top five in the league on both sides of the ball. This is the second playoff matchup between the two teams, with the Jaguars prevailing 30-27 in the 1996-97 playoffs.
Jacksonville has been suffocating teams with their strong running game and will hope to do the same against the Bills. Nonetheless, Buffalo has shown flashes of potential this season, beating two playoff teams in the Falcons and the Chiefs. Bills vs Jaguars odds favour Jacksonville by nine points, but they haven’t made the playoffs in 10 seasons, so postseason jitters could become a factor.
*Odds as of January 5, 2018