NFL Divisional Playoffs – Upset Weekend Recap
I can’t think of an online sportsbook betting fan that really believed both the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals would win in their NFC Divisional Playoff games this past weekend.
Both the Cardinals and Eagles were online betting underdogs in their games but both came through big time.
In the AFC the AFC North Division sent two teams to the AFC Conference Championship game in the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
But we’ll start with a re-cap of the NFC games.
Let’s get to it!
Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers – – The Arizona Cardinals were 10 point underdogs in the BetUS online sportsbook against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers had everything going for them. At least, that’s what it looked like on paper. The Cardinals had to fight hard the week before in order to beat the Atlanta Falcons at home while the Panthers got to rest up for the playoffs. The Cardinals defense played about as well as football betting fans could have expected in their game against the Falcons. There were doubts as to whether or not they could repeat that effort. Well, they did by forcing Jake Delhomme to throw five interceptions. Not only that but Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and that Arizona rushing attack dominated the Panthers’ vaunted defense. The Cardinals easily beat the spread by dominating Carolina 33 to 13.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants – – On Sunday the good news for the Arizona Cardinals kept coming as the Philadelphia Eagles upset the number one seeded New York Giants by a score of 23 to 11. That means that the Cardinals get to host the NFC Championship game. What NFL betting fan even considered that? Eli Manning threw two picks and the Eagles kept Giants’ running back Brandon Jacobs in check. It was the second time this season that the Eagles beat the Giants on the road as underdogs. In this past weekend’s game Philly was a 4 point underdog. They’ve actually been installed as 3 point favorites against the spread to beat the Cardinals in next week’s NFC Championship game.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans – – This past Saturday the Baltimore Ravens, with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, started the underdog procession going as they beat the number one seeded Tennessee Titans straight-up. It wasn’t easy for the Ravens, but they pulled out a victory because of their terrific defense. Of course, things will be tougher for the Ravens in their game against the Steelers in the AFC Championship game because Big Ben and Hines Ward are somewhat better than the Titans’ combination of Kerry Collins and Justin Gage. But the Ravens have won two games on the road in the playoffs. That makes them awfully scary going into the AFC Championship game.
San Diego Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers – – It was touch and go for a while there but the Pittsburgh Steelers proved their toughness by being the only NFL favorite to win this past weekend. The Steelers not only won but they covered a 6 point online betting spread in the BetUS online sportsbook. Now, they have to face their biggest rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, for a ticket to the Super Bowl. Pitt won with their running game by wearing down that Chargers’ defensive line. It won’t be that easy to run against the Ravens next Sunday.
