NFL Divisional Playoff Parlay – Big Profits on this 3 Game Pick

The AFC and NFC Divisional Round games are finally here!

The NFL sportsbook will be offering playoff odds on every one of the NFL Divisional Playoff games. Gamblers should definitely think about betting these games individually.

They should also think about betting a three team or four team parlay. I’ll be making a wager on a three team parlay. Let’s take a look now.

NFL Divisional Round: 3 Team Parlay Bet

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

1/16/2010

Kick-off: 4:30 pm EST

NFL Odds: New Orleans -7, Total 57

Analysis: The Saints are healthier on defense than they have been in about two months. The return of cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracey Porter will be huge as the Saints will need both of those guys to keep Cardinals’ wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin under control.

The return of Porter also allows free safety Darren Sharper to roam the middle of the field and attempt to grab Kurt Warner passes out of the air. You know the Saints are healthy when Deuce McAllister is back!

On offense, New Orleans figures to beat up a Cardinals’ team that surrendered close to 500 yards in total offense to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. Expect the Saints to be fully rested and ready to roll in this game.

Pick: New Orleans -7

Dallas Cowboys vs. Minnesota Vikings

1/17/2010

Kick-off: 1:00 pm EST

NFL Odds: Minnesota -2 ½, Total 45 ½

Analysis: The Dallas Cowboys have been on a roll lately but must now travel to Minnesota to take on Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and the Vikings in the dome.

The ‘Boys beat up on Philadelphia last week in the wildcard round but Philadelphia just isn’t as good as a well rested Vikings’ team. Minnesota’s pass rush should be much better in this game than it was in the second half of the season. Also, Adrian Peterson figures to have his legs under him again after struggling in the final two months of the regular season.

This game could be close but nobody beat Minnesota during the regular season at home. Dallas won’t be the first to do it. I expect the Cowboys to suffer a let down in this game after 5 straight weeks of playing excellent ball.

The Vikings should cover the spread.

Pick: Minnesota Vikings -2 ½

New York Jets vs. San Diego Chargers

1/17/2010

Kick-off: 4:40 pm EST

NFL Odds: San Diego -7, Total 42

Analysis: The Jets are getting a lot of press for beating the Cincinnati Bengals 24 to 14 last week on the road.

There are a couple of things that we need to study regarding that game. First, the Jets decided to let RB Cedric Benson run wild. New York took away Cincinnati’s ability to pass. Benson had 169 yards on the ground.

Second, the Jets Mark Sanchez only threw 15 passes in that game. What it means is that the Jets found it easy to run on the Bengals and, therefore, they stuck to it.

The Jets are going to have more trouble with San Diego’s offense than they think. First of all, New York has nobody that can cover Chargers’ tight-end Antonio Gates. The Jets’ terrific cornerback, Darrelle Revis, might be able to take away one of the Chargers’ wide receivers as an option, but then what does New York do with Gates?

Then, even if the Jets do cover Gates, San Diego has two running backs that can run wild in LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles.

The point regarding Sanchez is that San Diego’s defense is used to playing against top notch running attacks. The Chargers have beaten Denver with Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter, Kansas City with Jamal Charles and Dallas with Marion Barber and Felix Jones. They’re not afraid of taking on Jets’ running backs Shonn Greene and Thomas Jones. How will Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez respond once the running game has been taken away from him? Not well.

I see San Diego handling the Jets fairly easily in this game.

Pick: San Diego -7