NFL Divisional Round Playoff Matchups
NFL Weekend Preview
There are only three more weekends of NFL betting, and the choices are going to dwindle after four more teams are eliminated in the Divisional Round.
On Saturday, Tennessee hosts Baltimore in what is shaping up to be a defensive struggle, while Carolina looks to hold off Arizona despite seeing the biggest chalk on the board.
Philadelphia is dogged on the road in its rubber match with the defending Super Bowl Champions in New York on Sunday, while San Diego hopes to keep the dream alive in the weekend finale at favored Pittsburgh.
AFC
Baltimore at Tennessee (-3, 34.5) – Saturday, 4:30 PM ET
Titans (13-3, 12-4 ATS) backers are banking on the return of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch when Tennessee clashes with the Ravens (12-5, 13-4 ATS).
The Titans faded down the stretch with the AFC South division locked up and Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch out of the lineup. Tennessee lost two of its last three games (1-2 ATS) to end the season, so they’re hoping the pair can get the vaunted Titans’ defense back on track.
Baltimore has quite the defense of its own, and it was on display in the Ravens’ 27-9 win in their AFC Wild Card matchup with the Miami Dolphins last week. Ed Reed had two of Baltimore’s four interceptions, as the Ravens covered as 3.5-point road favorites in the win.
San Diego at Pittsburgh (-6, 38) – Sunday, 4:45 PM ET
If someone had asked the Steelers (12-4, 9-7 ATS) a month ago if they would like their chances against the Chargers (9-8, 8-8-1 ATS) in a potential AFC Divisional Round matchup, they would have taken the bet. With the way San Diego is playing right now, they might not feel so lucky.
The Chargers have won five games in a row (4-1 ATS), and are averaging an impressive 34.4 points per game during the improbable hot streak. San Diego has also gotten it done without a healthy LaDainian Tomlinson, who is doubtful against Pittsburgh with a torn tendon in his groin.
Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start despite suffering a concussion two weeks ago in the regular season finale, while NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison is probable for the Steelers despite a hip injury.
NFC
Arizona at Carolina (-10, 48.5) – Saturday, 8:15 PM ET
It doesn’t seem to faze public bettors the Cardinals (10-7, 10-7 ATS) are 2-20 SU in their last 22 games in the Eastern Time Zone heading into their matchup with the Panthers (12-4, 9-6-1 ATS). It’s likely the 10-point dog tag has something to do with it.
About 60% of wagers on the game have come in on Arizona throughout the week, although that doesn’t seem to be enough for oddsmakers to move the line off the 10-point number. Squares seem to think the Cards can finish what they started when the teams met on October 26, when Arizona held a 17-3 lead in the third quarter before watching Carolina storm back to win the game 27-23 on home turf.
The Cardinals did cover in the game as 5-point underdogs, and now they’ll have to do it again with Anquan Boldin hobbling. Boldin is questionable with a strained left hamstring for Arizona, and is expected to test out his sore wheel on Saturday afternoon prior to kickoff.
Philadelphia at NY Giants (-4, 40) – Sunday, 1 PM ET
Expect a dogfight when the Eagles (10-6-1, 11-6 ATS) hook up with the Giants (12-4, 12-4 ATS), who ride into the game after a much-needed first-round bye.
New York dropped three of four games (2-2 ATS) to end the season in large part due to fatigue. The Giants played 13 consecutive contests following their initial bye week against one of the toughest schedules in the league; it was pretty evident they hit the wall by the time December rolled around.
The good news for New York is behemoth running back Brandon Jacobs is primed to return to the lineup after missing the final two games of the regular season with a lingering knee injury. On the other sideline, Brian Westbrook (ankle, knee) is slated to start for the Eagles, who split their meetings with the Giants this season.
