Rejoice, NFL fans. We’ve made it. Wild Card Weekend is here.
The action kicks off Saturday and continues straight through Monday, with several intriguing matchups on tap.
Without further ado, here are my top NFL Wild Card predictions.
All NFL odds used for these NFL Wild Card best bets are current as of Friday, Jan. 9, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best NFL Wild Card Bets
Best Spread Bet: Rams -10.5 (-105) @ Panthers
This is undoubtedly a huge spread for a road favorite in a postseason game. But let’s be frank: the Panthers don’t deserve to be here.
Carolina is 8-9, and its negative-69 point differential is the fourth-worst for any playoff team in NFL history.
The Rams, on the other hand, have 13 wins and, well, you get the point. This is a mismatch — and a particularly big one at that.
Look for Los Angeles to roll in my NFL pick of the day.
Best Over/Under Bet: Texans @ Steelers: Under 38.5 (-115)
The Texans’ top-ranked defense should get after Aaron Rodgers and keep Pittsburgh in check, even with No. 1 receiver DK Metcalf returning from his two-game suspension.
But don’t expect their offense to have a field day against the Steelers, especially with temperatures expected to dip below freezing.
It’s no wonder this is the lowest total on the board among NFL Wild Card picks.
Best Moneyline Bet: Jaguars (-108) vs Bills
This line has moved back and forth throughout the week, with Jacksonville listed as a slight underdog again despite holding the better record.
The Bills have Josh Allen, but nobody is playing better than Trevor Lawrence right now.
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He has thrown for 19 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions during the Jaguars’ eight-game win streak.
Look for him to pull out a close one at home.
Best Underdog Bet: Bears (+100) vs Packers
These fierce NFC North rivals split a pair of meetings in December, with the home team winning both games.
That may not matter here, as both Chicago and Green Bay are used to playing in the elements.
But I do worry about injuries finally catching up to the Packers, as they are not the same team without Micah Parsons.
Consider this wager with our top sportsbook promotions for 2026.
NFL Wild Card Weekend Game Predictions
For complete coverage of NFL Wild Card Weekend 2026, please check out our game predictions for each matchup:
