NFL Divisional Playoff Bets – Ravens, Packers, Bears and Jets Look Good

It was upsets galore in the NFL Wild Card Round as the Seattle Seahawks took down the defending champs, the New Orleans Saints, the Jets beat the Colts 17 to 16 in a tough AFC matchup, and the Green Bay Packers took it to QB Michael Vick when knocking out the Eagles.

The Baltimore Ravens was the only favored team to cover the spread this past weekend. Will the NFL Divisional Round be any different than the NFL Wild Card Round? Can the favored Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots cover the spreads in the sportsbook? An early look says, “No.”.

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Let’s take a look at the best NFL Divisional Playoff bets for the 2011 NFL Playoffs!

NFL Divisional Round

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When: Jan. 15th, 2011 at 4:30 pm EST

NFL Betting Pick: Ravens +3 ½

Analysis: A lot can happen from now until Saturday but the Ravens are the pick to cover the spread in the NFL sportsbook vs. the Steelers at this point. Pittsburgh and Baltimore face each other for the third time this season. Baltimore beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Oct. 3rd last year 17 to 14. The Steelers returned the favor on Dec. 5th last year by beating the Ravens in Baltimore 13 to 10. Both teams have played well lately, but Baltimore appears to be the hotter team winning their last 5 games straight up and going 4 and 1 against the spread in those 5 games.

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

When: Jan. 15th, 2011 at 8:00 pm EST

NFL Betting Pick: Packers +1

Analysis: #1 NFC seeded Atlanta is getting no respect from the odds makers as they are only a single point home fave versus #6 seed Green Bay this Saturday. Atlanta beat Green Bay 20 to 17 on Nov. 28th last year but any football handicapper that remembers that game knows that the Falcons probably got lucky winning. That’s one of the reasons that backing the Packers is one of the better NFL Divisional Playoff game betting to make this weekend. Green Bay’s defense was magical when holding Vick to 292 passing yards, a TD and a pick and only 33 yards rushing and a single TD in their 20 to 16 victory over the Eagles this past Sunday. The Packers have won their last 3 games straight up. Their defense has allowed only 19 points in their last 2 games and GB is obviously flying high after the victory over Philly. Atlanta’s offense, ranked 15th in the league in total yards, could have trouble moving the ball versus the Packers’ excellent, blitzing D.

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

When: Jan. 16th, 2011 at 1:00 pm EST

NFL Betting Pick: Bears -10

Analysis: Although 58% of football betting gamblers at this point disagree with me, I believe that Chicago is the only favorite this weekend deserving of a wager to cover the spread. Da Bears should be raring to go after spending a week getting healthy. Seattle upset the New Orleans Saints partly because they took on the Saints on Qwest Field and played with incredible emotion while the Saints’ D played with no emotion. Expect the opposite to happen on Sunday. Seattle beat Chicago 23 to 20 at Soldier Field on Oct. 17th. Since the loss, Chicago has gone 7 and 3 straight up while Seattle, counting the victory over New Orleans, has gone 5 and 7 straight up. Chicago’s D should handle Seattle’s offense while Da Bears’ offense, which produced 78 combined points in the Bears final 3 regular season games, could run it up against Seattle’s 27th ranked D.

New York Jets at New England Patriots

Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

When: Jan. 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm EST

NFL Betting Picks: Jets +9

Analysis: I understand that the New England Patriots have been en fuego this season. They ended the regular season at 14 and 2. They haven’t lost a game since November 7th. They beat the Jets 45 to 3 on December 6th. But taking the points on NYJ in this matchup is one of the better NFL Divisional Playoff bets to make this weekend because the Jets appear to be surging at the right time. The Jets upset Pittsburgh on the road 22 to 17 on Dec. 19th, came back a week later to barely lose to Chicago on the road 34 to 38, and then dominated Buffalo 38 to 7 to finish off the regular season. Now, NYJ goes into the Divisional Round off of a 17 to 16 wild card game victory against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. The Jets are getting way too many points from their rivals to be ignored in this game. I have to go with NYJ to cover the spread.

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