2010 NFL Wild Card Games
The NFL playoffs will begin on Jan. 9 with the start of the Wild Card games. Somehow, three of the four games are rematches from Week No. 16 of the regular season, making preparation time a bit easier for coaching staffs and the players.Those who read the site regularly will remember that betting the games to go under the total has historically been a decent wager, so we'll look to follow that trend as well as find a couple of sides worth taking.
New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals
The first game of the playoffs will be the New York Jets at the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets demolished Cincinnati in the Sunday night game and quite a few bettors are expecting another New York victory.Cincinnati is favored by 2.5 and the total is 34.5. As of Jan. 8, the betting public is split 50-50 on point spread wagers, while the Jets have captured 64 percent of the moneyline bets.
I'm not entirely sold on the Jets, as their victory over the Bengals had more to do with Cincinnati having absolutely nothing to play for than it did the Jets being a superior team. The Bengals have a solid defense, and I'm hesitant to back a rookie in the playoffs.
We'll take a shot with the superior team laying less than a field goal at home. Will lean to the under, but there isn't much value there, so will stay away from making it an official play.
Philadelphia at Dallas
Here is a game where what happened in Week No. 16 has a definite influence on this week's point spread. Dallas was favored by 2 in most places and now the Cowboys find themselves a 4-point favorites with a total of 45, which is down from Pinnacle's opening number of 48.Again, the under has lost a bit of its value, so we'll lean that way, but hold off from making it an official play.
The Eagles had consistently gotten the best of Dallas prior to the Cowboys' victory and while that should give Dallas some confidence, I'm not real eager to lay four points with them at this point. Have to side with Philadelphia getting the points.
Baltimore at New England
The playoffs are starting at the wrong time for the New England Patriots, who lost leading receiver Wes Welker in the final regular season game and Tom Brady is pretty beat up as well. Still, New England is favored by 3 or 3.5 and the total is 43.When healthy, New England is the better team, but will have their hands full in this won. The Patriots won the regular season meeting between the two teams, 27-21, although Baltimore was probably the better of the two teams on the field that day.
We'll make a play on the under 43 in this one, and I'd give the Patriots the slightest of leans.
Green Bay at Arizona
The Packers rolled past Arizona in the final regular season game and bettors are lining up to wager that a repeat happens. Arizona opened as 2.5-point favorites, but the line is now even, with Green Bay being favored by a point in several spots.The total opened at 48 and is down to 47.
The Packers were one of the better teams in the NFL this season, despite having to settle for a Wild Card berth. The two losses to Minnesota relegated Green Bay to a Wild Card spot long ago and the Packers have quietly put up some solid statistics.
On the other hand, it's hard to let the defending NFC champions go off as a home underdog, as the team is clearly capable of turning it up once the playoffs start, as they did last year. Also, Kurt Warner has a huge experience advantage over Aaron Rodgers in big games.
No real opinions in this one, although I'd lean to the under and to Arizona, although neither side is likely to have me reaching for my wallet.
