Super Bowl betting is still a month away, but Wild Card betting is all the rage this weekend. Saturday’s NFL playoff action kicks off with the rubber match between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans, followed by an NFC battle between Dallas and Seattle. We have predictions on both games.
Colts vs Texans NFL Wild Card Betting Analysis
The Colts and Texans clashed twice during the regular season with each side taking a game on the road. In Week 4 Houston edged Indianapolis 37-24 as a 1-point road favorite, and in Week 14 the Colts won 24-21 as a 4-point road underdog.
This weekend the Texans are a 2-point home favorite at BetOnline.ag. This season when favored the Texans were only 5-6-1 against the spread. They were also 4-4 ATS at home. Houston also stumbled into the playoffs a bit, going 2-2 SU and 1-1-2 ATS in their last four games.
Indianapolis heads into the playoffs on a four-game winning streak with a 3-1 ATS mark. They’re also 9-1 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in their last 10 games. The Colts overall road mark this season of 4-4 SU and 5-3 ATS could be a bit deceiving.
Indianapolis started the season by losing three of their first four road games before turning it on late to go 3-1 SU and ATS in their last four.
Colts vs Texans Wild Card Pick
Behind Andrew Luck the Colts look like a solid pick at +2. He’s already led them to victory in Houston once this season and in the Wild Card round the underdogs have been money lately with a 4-0 ATS mark last season.
Seahawks vs Cowboys NFL Wild Card Betting Analysis
In Saturday’s other matchup the Dallas Cowboys host the Seattle Seahawks as a 1-point home favorite. Betting against Seattle in a Wild Card game has been a money loser, as the Seahawks have won six Wild Card games in a row.
This is also a regular season rematch. In Week 3, the Seahawks defeated Dallas 24-13 as a 1-point home favorite. That was Seattle’s third straight win over Dallas.
Seattle was king of the underdogs for bettors this season. The Seahawks have won five straight ATS as an underdog, went 5-1-1 ATS on the season, and in their last 11 games as a ‘dog they’re 8-2-1 ATS. Those trends don’t completely holdup in the postseason where Seattle is 3-10 SU and 6-7 ATS in their last 13 as an underdog.
Dallas took full advantage of home field this season, going 7-1 SU and 5-2-1 ATS at home. In the playoffs in recent years it Dallas has played terribly regardless of venue. In their last 11 postseason games the Cowboys are 2-9 SU and 3-8 ATS, and that includes going 2-3 SU and 1-4 ATS in their last five at home.
Dallas and Seattle have only met once before in the postseason in 2007 when the Seahawks edged the Cowboys 21-20 as a 1.5-point after Tony Romo botched the hold on what could have been a game-winning 19-yard field goal.
Seattle vs Dallas Wild Card Pick
Look for Seattle to triumph again and for Dallas’ playoff disappointments to continue. Take Seattle +1.