Two of the hottest NFL teams, who also happen to be underdogs, will be in action on wild card Sunday.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts visit Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, who have lost four of their last five games, are favored by seven points with the total at 47. Kickoff is set for 1:05 PM ET at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Following the AFC tilt will be the highly anticipated NFC matchup between the Seahawks and Redskins in Washington. Two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, both rookies, will lead their respective teams. Russell Wilson will take the snaps for Seattle while Robert Griffin III lines up behind center for the Skins. Game time is 4:30 PM ET at FedExField in Landover, Maryland. The Seahawks are favored by three points up from the opening line of -1. The total is 46.
Red Hot Redskins
Washington closed out the regular season with seven-straight wins to capture the NFC East. Sunday will mark the Redskins first playoff appearance since 2007, and they can thank a pair of rookies for that. RG3 threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns and also rushed for 815 yards and seven TDs. Alfred Morris, the first year phenom from Florida Atlantic, rushed for 1,687 yards and had a combined 13 touchdowns. If you are planning to bet on the Super Bowl, keep an eye on these young quarterbacks who are playing like grizzled veterans.,
Seahawks Soaring
Seattle has become the fashionable favorite to win the Super Bowl. They closed the season with a 20-13 win over the Rams but in the three games prior to that they humbled the 49ers, Bills and Cardinals by a combined 150-30 margin. Wilson threw 16 of his 26 touchdowns during that stretch and had just two interceptions.
Luck of the Draw
The Colts (11-5 SU and ATS) took Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in this year’s draft and he has lived up to the hype and more. While his statistics are not on par with Wilson and RG3, his poise and composure has been second to none.
Luck led the Colts on seven game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, the most by an NFL rookie since the 1970 merger. His six 300-yard passing games are most by a rookie in NFL history.
Ravens Reeling
In the postseason, it is all about momentum. Indianapolis has plenty of it and Baltimore (10-6 SU, 6-9-1 ATS) does not.
The Ravens are on a 1-4 stretch compared to the Colts who are on streaks of 5-1 and 9-2. At this point of the season, it does not matter where a team is seeded or where the game is being played. The public sides with the hotter of the two teams and in this case, it is Indianapolis.
Action on the spread has been evenly split, but books are seeing more money coming in on the Colts moneyline.