Betting NFL Wildcard Games
The NFL playoffs start this weekend with the four Wildcard games, and what's surprising is that all four road teams are favored. Since 1978, only 11 times has there been a home underdog in the Wildcard games.
The most obvious question is, 'How have home underdogs performed in the Wildcard games?' and the answer is 'quite well,' as home underdogs have covered the point spread in nine out of the 11 previous contests.
The rationale of home underdogs covering in the Wildcard games is an easy one, you're betting on good teams.
There's been a tendency for games to either be close contests (43-percent decided by seven or fewer points) or blowouts (46-percent were decided by 14 or more points).
Home favorites are just a 50-percent proposition.
As usual, the weather is something that should be checked prior to betting on games in January, although it's unlikely for any of the games to be affected, as Minnesota plays indoors, and Phoenix, San Diego, and Miami aren't going to be hit with snow any time soon.
Being selective is another key for January betting, as the unwritten rule for many sports bettors is that you have to play every game once the bowl games and playoffs start, which is the type of thinking the bookies love to see.
But if you have to have action on every game and are unsure of which team to take, past history says you could do a lot worse than backing home underdogs in the first round of the playoffs.
