As the NFL playoffs move on to the divisional round, two teams with top-six Super Bowl odds entering the wild-card round are no longer around. With the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles bowing out early, the final eight looks a little different than what was expected. The Miami Dolphins are another former top-seven team no longer in the picture.
Instead, joining the favored San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, we have teams like the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans hanging around. Below is a look at Super Bowl odds for each remaining team and a preview of their matchups this week.
Odds via BetMGM
AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn
The Texans were underdogs at home against the Cleveland Browns last week, so you just knew they’d be up against a huge spread on the road against the top-seeded Ravens. As 9.5-point underdogs, that’s exactly what happened. That said, not many people saw them beating Cleveland, so it’d be foolish to completely write them off in Baltimore. The question here is at what point does C.J. Stroud finally start to look like a rookie? Because through this point in the year, it just hasn’t happen. Maybe it’s past time to stop expecting it. Also, will Baltimore be rusty after a week off? And can Houston’s defense carry over last week’s monster performance into a game against likely MVP Lamar Jackson?
AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
You don’t need me to hype this matchup for you. It’s the Chiefs and Bills in the playoffs yet again. Patrick Mahomes versus Josh Allen. And to add a new twist to it, it’s Mahomes and the Chiefs in a road playoff game, something we haven’t seen in the Mahomes era. How do the Chiefs fare away from Arrowhead? My guess is they’ll be just fine. The problem for them will be whatever boost the Bills get from being at home — and I do expect the Bills to play well at home. Oddsmakers do too, thus Buffalo getting a 2.5-point edge against a team that’s had its number in the past.
Wm. Glasheen-USA TODAY Sports
This game is not expected to be your classic Packers-49ers playoff game of the past, with San Francisco favored by 10 points. Green Bay wasn’t even supposed to make it this far. After upsetting Dallas, though, the Packers are coming into this game with a ton of confidence. If they can find a way to get ahead on the Niners, they could put Brock Purdy and that offense in an uncomfortable situation. I think the problem for the Packers is San Francisco’s ability to run the ball. That’s one area the Cowboys failed to threaten Green Bay, but you don’t have to worry about the 49ers making that mistake. Christian McCaffrey will have a say in how this game goes.
AP Photo/Duane Burleson
After fending off the feisty Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford, I don’t think there’s a team out there the Detroit Lions and their fans think they can’t beat. But if there is, that team definitely isn’t the Buccaneers. As impressive as Tampa’s win over the Eagles was, Philadelphia had been trending towards an early playoff exit for weeks. Detroit is doing the opposite. The Lions are going to be a tough out, and a six-point spread tells the same story. Tampa won’t make it easy, though. Without a ton of expectations for the team or Baker Mayfield entering the season, the Bucs are playing with house money right now. That’s often the most dangerous team you could be up against. Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
