Last season, all four wild-card home teams. Two years ago, all four wild-card road teams won.
If the Odds Shark NFL scores computer is correct, all the favorites will win this weekend, but only one will cover the spread.
The machine was 11-5 SU in Week 17, but just 8-8 ATS, capping a lame year for the number cruncher. To go 4-0 this week, Houston, Green Bay, Baltimore and Seattle will have to win.
Only Seattle, a 3-point road favorite at Washington, will cover the spread as underdogs will rule the day with a 3-1 ATS mark.
The computer is calling a 34-26 final in Washington on Sunday night, despite the Redskins 7-0 ATS streak and their stoutness as an underdog (7-2 ATS past nine games in this role).
It has the Baltimore Ravens winning 27-21 at home to Indianapolis, ruining the playoff debut of QB Andrew Luck and extending Ray Lewis’s career another week.
But with a 7-point spread, the Ravens will not cover at home, something that has happened regularly as their 2-7 ATS as a home favorite proves. It would also extend the Colts’ 8-0 ATS run in eight recent games against Baltimore.
Saturday’s wild card betting action sees both home teams winning, starting with a 28-27 Houston win at home to Cincinnati. The Bengals have lost four straight playoff games, but they have performed very well as a road team and as an underdog lately.
Getting 4.5 points means that Cincy bettors will turn a profit. Beware Houston’s 5-0 ATS run against the Bengals in recent years however.
Green Bay will also win, but fail to cover. A week after losing to Minnesota, the computer picks them to win 29-24 at Lambeau Field. The spread of 7.5 points means another underdog cover.
The computer picks all four games will go OVER the total. OVERs prevailed at a 3-1 clip last season on wild card weekend.
Check out the wild card predictions courtesy of the Odds Shark computer.
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