Early NFL Odds for the Divisional Round

Early NFL Odds for the Divisional Round

Written by on January 17, 2022

So far, we are 4-1 against the spread in the NFL wild card playoffs, with the lone setback coming in Kansas City, as we thought Pittsburgh would be able to stay within 12 ½ points of the Chiefs, but Kansas City rolled by 21. Cincinnati beat Las Vegas by seven, a result that benefited from what turned out to be an incorrectly called touchdown on a play that featured an errant whistle. Buffalo torched New England at home, scoring seven touchdowns in a 47-17 rout. Tampa Bay took care of business at home, going up on Philadelphia, 31-0, before permitting two garbage time touchdowns. In the lone upset, San Francisco went to Dallas and took care of a Cowboys team that has become one of our more reliable performers when it comes to turtling against other quality opponents. 

Let’s look at the early NFL betting odds for three of the divisional matchups, as there remains one wild card game to be played tonight.

NFL News: Early Odds for the Divisional Round

Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans (-4) 

Saturday, January 22 | 4:30 pm ET, CBS
Tennessee has won a number of impressive games, but their five losses came to Houston, the Jets, Arizona, New England and Pittsburgh. They did beat Buffalo and Kansas City, though. So which Titans team will show up at home on Saturday? Joe Burrow leads one of the hottest offenses in the NFL into Nissan Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Tennessee has the better rushing game, but you will want to check more closely into Derrick Henry’s health before wagering on this game. At this writing, reports indicate that Henry is not ready to be at 100% for Saturday’s matchup. The Bengals’ passing game is significantly better, and that’s coming on the heels of a subpar game out of Tee Higgins, who had three drops in the win over Las Vegas. One concerning fact was the Bengals’ inability to turn red zone possessions into touchdowns, as they had to settle for four field goals after deep drives, and the Titans have the more physical defense. Even so, I see Burrow leading his team to another team – or at least a cover.

Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans: Bet the Game Today

 

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (-4.5) 

Saturday, January 22 | 8:15 pm ET, FOX
Did you know that Kyle Shanahan and Jimmy Garoppolo have gone 10-3 as road underdogs when part of the same team? Now, San Francisco has short rest, after playing on Sunday, while the Packers come in off a bye. Aaron Rodgers is 12-5-1 against the spread in games coming out of a bye, and the team got back left tackle David Bahktiari and expects to get back cornerback Jaire Alexander.

San Francisco lost edge rusher Nick Bosa (concussion) and Fred Warner (ankle) in the win over Dallas, taking away two of their top defensive contributors. Then there’s the Lambeau factor, as the weather will be cold – and Rodgers has a 69-37-4 record against the spread. The mistakes San Francisco made in the second half of their win over Dallas would have allowed a competent postseason team to come back for the victory…but this is why Dallas has four postseason wins in the last 27 years. Green Bay will be much less forgiving.

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers: Bet the Game Today

 

Arizona Cardinals / L.A. Rams winner at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3:00 pm ET, NBC)


Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5) 

Sunday, January 23 | 6:30 pm ET, CBS
An interesting stat emerged from Buffalo’s 47-17 throttling of the New England Patriots on Saturday night. No team in the history of the NFL had ever made it through a whole game without punting, attempting a field goal or turning the ball over, and the Bills made it, scoring seven touchdowns and then kneeling on their last possession. Josh Allen was 21 of 25 for 308 yards and five scores, and he ran the ball six times for 66 yards.

In Allen’s career, he is 10-5-2 against the spread as a road underdog; Patrick Mahomes is 9-10 against the spread at home since last season. The Bills’ defense is ranked second in the NFL in terms of efficiency. Obviously, the Chiefs’ offense was rolling in the wild card round, just like the Bills’ was. This is a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship, when the Bills just couldn’t keep up with the Kansas City offense, and in the offseason, the Bills made the needed improvements on defense and look ready to win.

Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs: Bet the Game Today

 

NFL Betting Odds

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