The NFL regular season has come to a close. The 20 teams that did not qualify for the postseason have gotten the early jump on preparing for next year. The top two teams in both the AFC and the NFC have the next week off as they begin to prepare for a possible Super Bowl run.
In the middle of it all, there are eight teams set to battle it out in the opening Wild Card Round of the playoffs. These games consist of the other two division winners in each conference squaring off against the next best teams.
All eight of these teams are at a severe disadvantage to advance past this round even if they win this week. Often times, these four games are viewed as fillers between the end of the regular season and the real start of the playoffs in the Divisional Round. Regardless of the Wild Card Round’s status with NFL fans, they are all great value opportunities when it comes to betting on the games at your favorite online sportsbook.
Current form is a significant factor in all four matchups. Teams backing into a playoff spot are usually primed for an early exit. Having home field is still very important, but current playing form should be at the top of the list when it comes to breaking down these four matchups.
If a team had to win its final few games just to earn a playoff spot, that could be a considerable edge. The players are already conditioned to a certain ‘win and move on’ mentality. If they had to rise to the occasion before, they are more apt to rising to the occasion in this round.
The best NFL teams are not on the field in these four games. This automatically makes these four games closer than the opening spread may indicate. In turn, this automatically adds value to the four underdogs. If a team is getting points at home and its current form is strong, that adds even more value to its betting odds.
Avoid the trap of automatically betting against the teams that are just happy to be in the playoffs. This is still the pros, and there is a reason they are still playing this time of year. However, you should buy into veteran coaching, especially if that team does have a wealth of postseason experience.
The heat of the battle tests every NFL head coach’s mettle. A coach with experience winning on the NFL’s biggest stage gives his team a significant advantage against a team with a coach making his first trip to the playoffs. Especially in the Wild Card Round featuring closer matchups.
As far as betting the NFL total line for the opening round of playoffs, you always have to keep an eye to the sky for any outdoor games. January in most of the country has the ability to produce some downright nasty field conditions. Cold weather alone should not impact scoring. Cold weather with rain, sleet, ice, and snow can drastically change field conditions.
If a total line appears too be high for an outdoor game when it is first released, an early wager on the UNDER would be a viable way to go. It is likely to go down a few points if it is perceived that the weather will have an impact come game time.
Two high scoring teams playing indoors is always a great recipe for playing the OVER no matter how high the total line is set. More than a few wild card games have turned into high scoring track meets in domes over the years.
