NFL Divisional Round Saturday
Photo Credit: NBC
Thanks to those that took the time to read. Questions? Leave a comment. Want info on more games that your book offers? Let me know. Follow along on our socials and good luck to us!
We also stream live on Twitch.tv talking about the games and live betting.
NFL Season Record: 38-41-7 - Betting 1 Unit to Win X
3:30pm cst: Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens -9.5; Total 43.5
CJ Stroud and the red hot Houston Texans head into cold and windy Baltimore looking to take down the #1 AFC Ravens. Lamar Jackson has not won a playoff game since 2021 and is 1-3 in the playoffs. The odds on favorite to win the NFL MVP has always been dicey in playoff games and it is starting to create a stigma. Will he be able to shake that today?
The Ravens rested Jackson the last week of the season while playing some starters off and on. I am not a fan of multiple weeks of rest as it typically creates rust. This will technically be the Texans third playoff week in a row. When these two met in Week 1 it was obviously the first game of CJ Stroud’s career and I think he’s improved a little since then. The Texans were neck and neck with the Ravens other than an explosive third quarter from Baltimore. Houston turned the ball over on downs twice and fumbled and the Ravens ran away with the game. It was a much closer contest than the final score showed.
If the Texans can put pressure on Lamar Jackson and make him uncomfortable I think the Texans will find success. Houston will need to play great run defense like they did in the first meeting only allowing 3.4 yards per carry. With it being a cold and windy game in Baltimore the ground game is going to matter for both teams. I like CJ Stroud to get the job done today. The Texans are the hot team and I am never a fan of a team that rested the last week of the season and also had a bye week. I also feel like this is a game that will go under the total in a grind it out type of game.
Pick: Texans +9.5 (-110) [via DraftKings]
Pick: Under 43.5 (-108) [via DraftKings]
7:00pm cst: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers -10; Total 51
The Green Bay Packers are coming off a massive blowout win against Dallas. Will they be able to replicate that perfect performance against the NFC #1 team? The Niners also rested their starters in the last week of the season and are off a first round bye week. In my opinion it is difficult for teams to replicate a perfect performance like the Packers had against Dallas.
The Packers love to blitz and Brock Purdy is one of the best quarterbacks against the blitz statistically. Jordan Love is arguably playing better than anyone not named CJ Stroud right now. In the past couple matchups, the Packers have kept these games close but those games had different quarterbacks starting. This is a new era.
It feels like the Packers played such a perfect game it will be hard to replicate. They are also dealing with a few injuries. I do not like to lay double digits but my first reaction was fading the Packers. A rested Niners team will be dangerous. A lot of pressure on Jordan Love to have another outstanding game. Against Dallas there was no pressure on the Packers but now it’s massive. I think there will be plenty of points as well. The last time we really saw the Niners they got killed by the Ravens. I expect a strong performance.
Pick: Niners -10 (-110) [via DraftKings]
Pick: Over 50.5 (-115) [via DraftKings]
