Updated: April 27, 2025
- The NFL Playoffs kick off Saturday with the Wild Card Round
- Three of the four playoff games have a spread of 2.5 points or lower
- BetOnline believes at least two of the Wild Card teams will win outright
Christmas may have wrapped up last week, but for football fans the real holiday season begins Saturday, January 5th with Wild Card Weekend.
Who's ready for Wild Card Weekend? #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/V3UIQxyXyG
— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2018
The NFL has four compelling matchups to kickoff its post season, with three of the four favorites this weekend laying less than a field goal.
These tight point spreads have online sportsbooks betting at least two of the Wild Card teams will advance to the Divisional Round.
Odds How Many Wild Card Teams Win This Weekend
| How many Wild Card teams win this weekend | Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| Over 1.5 | -200 |
| Under 1.5 | +150 |
*All odds taken Jan 3
At least two Wild Card teams have won in the opening round in three of the past five seasons, including in 2016, when all four Wild Card teams made it through to the Divisional Round.
You can make a case for almost all the Wild Card teams this year, but two standout in particular.
Which Wild Card teams are most likely to advance?
The first one is a lay-up. The Colts have won nine of their last 10, and travel to Houston, in a rematch of a game they just won in Week 14.
As 3-seeds go, this is about the worst possible scenario I could envision for the #Texans this weekend. Colts are the better team.
— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) December 31, 2018
Indy has allowed the fewest sacks in the league and should be able to neutralize Houston's pass rush, allowing Andrew Luck plenty of time to pick their secondary apart.
Andrew Luck's HUGE 464 yard 4 TD performance against the Texans. He's back. ? pic.twitter.com/2YghPc9qJ8
— Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) October 1, 2018
The second is the Chargers, who square off with the Ravens for the second time in three weeks, this time in Baltimore.
“Round two, let’s get it.”
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) December 31, 2018
LA is a different team on the road posting a 7-0 record in games outside of Los Angeles, including wins in Kansas City, Seattle and Pittsburgh.
They played their worst game of the year in Week 16 and won't be fooled again by the Ravens run-heavy scheme led by rookie Lamar Jackson.
.@Lj_era8 will be the youngest QB to start a game in NFL postseason history ☝️ (via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/7GkstltwkA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 31, 2018
No rookie quarterback has won a playoff game over a non-rookie QB opponent since 2009.
Expect the Chargers to sell out to stop the run and force Jackson, and his woeful 58.2% completion percentage, to beat them through the air. This will play right into the hands of the LA's 9th-ranked pass defense.
Lay the juice and take over 1.5 Wild Card teams to advance.
Exact Number of Wild Card Teams to Win This Weekend
| How many Wild Card teams win this weekend | Odds at BetOnline |
|---|---|
| 0 | +750 |
| 1 | +250 |
| 2 | +150 |
| 3 | +300 |
| 4 | +2000 |
As much as I like the Colts and Chargers, there is little value in betting on exactly two Wild Card teams to win this weekend.
If we add a third team into the mix, our potential payout doubles and it just so happens Russell Wilson is undefeated in the Wild Card round.
The Seahawks have already beaten the Cowboys once this season, and Wilson owns an incredible 22-5-1 record in prime time games.
Both teams finished the season strong, but Seattle had a superior point differential and ranks considerably higher in weighted DVOA.
I like three Wild Card teams to advance at +300.
The post BetOnline's Odds Say 2 Wild Card Teams Win This Weekend appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/betonlines-odds-2-wild-card-teams-win-weekend/
