The NFL regular season closed with 9 underdogs covering the spread in their games and 4 winning their games outright.
Our Week 18 underdogs went 2-1. The Pittsburgh Steelers covered the +2.5 as underdogs, but did not win straight up as we picked. The Jacksonville Jaguars (+5) covered in a 26-23 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and the LA Rams (+6.5) covered the spread in a 30-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
We enter the Wild Card round of the playoffs 26-27-1. In this round, 4 of the 6 home teams are favored.
Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL odds, and tab the best NFL Wild Card Weekend underdog bets to cash in on among SportsbookWire’s NFL expert picks and predictions.
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NFL underdog predictions: Wild Card Weekend
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NFL odds. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:29 a.m. ET. All games ET.
STEELERS +10 (-115) at Ravens – Saturday 8 p.m. (Prime Video)
The 2 teams split their regular-season meetings, with both winning on their home field. The Ravens won by 17 points at home on Dec. 21. Baltimore’s last 4 games have been wins by at least 17 points.
The Steelers lost their final 4 games and 3 of those losses are to teams now in the postseason and by at least 14 points.
But in QB Lamar Jackson’s 7 playoff starts, the Ravens have reached 20 points twice. Playing a division rival a third time in a season in the postseason screams close game.
BRONCOS +9 (-110) at Bills – Sunday 1 p.m. (CBS)
The Broncos’ last 8 games have been wins or losses by no more than a touchdown. In the Bills’ last 5 games, the only win by more than a touchdown was over the New York Jets.
The Broncos led the NFL in sacks with 63 and their offense averaged 32.6 points per game over their final 7 contests.
The Bills allowed over 40 points in the last 2 games they played teams currently in the playoffs.
This has the makings of a shootout.
Vikings at RAMS +1 (-115) – Monday 8 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
Both teams lost their final regular-season game after winning streaks. The Rams had won 5 in a row and allowed 14 or fewer points in 4 of those wins.
The Vikings won 9 straight before a 31-9 loss to the Detroit Lions on the road in Week 18, forcing the 14-win Wild Card team to have to play on the road.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold has never played in the postseason and the Vikings have a history of postseason disappointments.
With both teams coming in, aside from their Week 18 losses, playing quite well, you look at the quarterbacks, the coaches and the defenses.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford has only 1 INT in his last 7 games. He has won a championship. Darnold threw 2 picks in his final 8 games.
In terms of defense, it is already noted that the Rams allowed 14 or fewer points in 4 of their final 6 games. The Vikings allowed 20 or more in 6 of their final 7 games.
In terms of coaching, Rams coach Sean McVay is 7-4 with 2 trips to the Super Bowl. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connellis 0-1 in the postseason.
Whether the game is played at SoFi Stadium or is moved to Arizona because of the wildfires in Southern California, expect the Rams to end the Vikings’ season.
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