Wild Card weekend was a bit of a dud as we only had two competitive games and one mild upset with the 49ers beating the Cowboys. Other than that, five of the six road teams won and did so in convincing fashion.
However, the Divisional Round of the playoffs is setting up to be a much better slate of games with every contest featuring fairly low spreads. We also have several fantastic quarterback matchups, including Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady vs. Matthew Stafford, etc.
To get you prepared for the week ahead, here are our best bets and picks for the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Please note that all NFL gameday odds and lines are current as of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, January 18.
Marcus Mosher’s Best Bets NFL Betting Record: 61-45
Divisional Round Predictions
Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs Prediction
These two teams had convincing wins in the Wild Card round of the playoffs with Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen combining to throw for 10 touchdowns. They will meet again after facing off against each other during the regular season and in last year’s AFC Championship Game.
- Read our full Bills vs Chiefs Predictions
While Allen seems to be growing every week as a passer, Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the AFC. And considering this game is in Kansas City and the Chiefs are healthy, it’s awfully hard to pick against them. That’s especially true when you factor in all of Andy Reid‘s and the Chiefs’ playoff experience.
Expect a close game, but for the Chiefs to ultimately win.
Bills vs Chiefs Prediction: Chiefs 28, Bills 24
Sportsbook Play of the Day
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Bills vs Chiefs Best Bet: Chiefs -2.5 (-110) on TwinSpires
Wager: 1 Unit
The Chiefs are nearly impossible to beat at home in the playoffs. And with the Chiefs this healthy and their offensive so improved, this just doesn’t feel like a game they will lose.
Buffalo is certainly going to challenge them and they can make it interesting late in the fourth quarter. But with this spread only being 2.5 points, it feels highly likely that the Chiefs will win by at least a field goal in their own stadium.
Bills vs Chiefs Best Bet: Under 55 (-110) on TwinSpires
Wager: 1 Unit
One of the biggest surprises of the season is how well the Chiefs’ defense has played. In the first nine drives against the Steelers on Sunday, they did not allow more than 20 yards on any drive. The Chiefs finally let up some on defense after they held a 35-7 lead in the third quarter.
They aren’t going to have the same success against the Bills on Sunday, but look for the defense to slow Allen down some and keep this score fairly low.
Check out more of our NFL Divisional Round betting tips:
Cincinnati Bengals vs Tennessee Titans Prediction
Two of the most fun teams in the AFC will meet in the Divisional Round on Saturday. Joe Burrow is coming off the first playoff appearance of his career as he led the Bengals to a playoff win. He was fantastic in that game and so was rookie phenom Ja’Marr Chase. However, they will have a much tougher opponent this week as they will take on the Titans in Tennessee.
- Read our full Bengals vs Titans Predictions
The Titans are the No. 1 seed in the conference and will have Derrick Henry back in the lineup for the first time in several months. This should be a highly competitive game, but the difference here is that the Titans are just so much better in the trenches. Burrow should be able to keep this game close, but look for the Titans to ultimately win after their week off.
Bengals vs Titans Prediction: Titans 24, Bengals 20
Bengals vs Titans Best Bet: Titans -3.5 (-110) on TwinSpires
Wager: 1 Unit
The No. 1 seed in each conference has such an advantage in this game as they are well-rested and at home. For the Titans, getting back Henry is just one of the many perks of having the best record in the AFC.
The Titans should start fast in this game, but look for their defensive line to have a huge performance against the lackluster offensive line of the Bengals. That is such a mismatch that it makes it hard to bet on the Bengals, even at +3.5.
Burrow is the best player on the field, but this game will be won or lost in the trenches for the Bengals.
Bengals vs Titans Best Bets: Under 47.5 (-110) on TwinSpires
Wager: 1 Unit
The Titans like to play at a really slow pace and the Bengals don’t mind doing that either. Look for both teams to try to establish the run in order to protect their quarterback from taking hits.
If this game does turn into a shootout, that will favor the Bengals. But expect this to be a hard-fought game with both teams struggling to score more than 24 points.
San Francisco 49ers vs Green Bay Packers Prediction
These two teams met early in the 2021 season and it was one of the best games of the year. Aaron Rodgers led the Packers on a game-winning drive, which ended in a Mason Crosby field goal with no time remaining.
- Read our full 49ers vs Packers Predictions
The key here will be the health of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, who both left early in the first round of the playoffs due to injury. If those two guys are healthy and can play, the 49ers will have a chance. Otherwise, this is a game the Packers should win fairly easily.
49ers vs Packers Prediction: Packers 30, 49ers 20
49ers vs Packers Best Bet: Packers -6 (-110) on TwinSpires
Wager: 1 Unit
No team left in the playoffs is healthier than the Green Bay Packers. And you just get the sense that Rodgers isn’t going to let the 49ers come into Green Bay and beat them again. Expect him to have one of his best playoff performances ever, and for the Packers to win by at least a touchdown.
Of all the games this weekend, this one has the best chance to be a blowout in favor of the Packers.
49ers vs Packers Best Bet: Over 47.5 (-110) on TwinSpires
Wager: 1 Unit
The 49ers don’t have the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, but they can generate points. With Deebo Samuel and George Kittle on the field at the same time, the Packers are going to have their hands full. If San Francisco can score around 24 points, this game should have no issue at all going Over the 47.5 point total.
You can expect that Green Bay is going to come out firing on offense, so it’ll just be up to the 49ers to try to keep up.
