NFL Wild Card Betting
By Mike Harrison
The NFL playoffs kick-off the New Year for sports bettors (and of course all the bowl action). The four games on Wild Card weekend give us football on both Saturday and Sunday and present several intriguing matchups.
I can?t say for sure, but this has to be the first time in NFL playoff history that all four home teams in the Wild Card round were underdogs when the opening lines were posted.
All four home sides are still dogs and while there has been some line movement, the public, for the most part, remains uneasy backing the higher seeds playing on home turf.
Hey if you ask me, at least one of the home teams is going to win this weekend?the tricky part obviously is picking which one.
And so it begins, the road to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay.
Let?s have a look at the matchups:
Saturday, January 3
NFC ? Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
Falcons: -1.5
Over/Under: 51.5
The NFC?s fourth and fifth seeds get things started off on Saturday as the Falcons head to the site of last year?s Super Bowl to play the Cardinals.
There?s not much history between these two and neither are particularly used to playing much in January (especially the Cardinals), as Atlanta has played in four playoff games over the last nine years, while Arizona has been at home for the post-season in each of the last nine years.
The Falcons and Cards have met six times in Arizona since 1989, with Atlanta posting a 1-5 SU mark and going 2-4 ATS. The Over cashed in five out of the six contests.
Coming off a 4-12 record last year, the Falcons have talented but inexperienced Matt Ryan behind center as opposed to the experienced Kurt Warner for the Cards.
This is the only home dog that bettors are feeling any warmth for, as early money came in on the Cardinals, but the action has since leveled off and is coming in pretty evenly split between the two sides.
AFC ? Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Colts -1.5
Over/Under: 51.5
Colts QB Peyton Manning might?ve been bothered by a July knee procedure more than he let on as Indianapolis was 3-4 SU (2-5 ATS) at the seven game mark of the regular season this year.
But the shaky start turned into a very impressive run through the second-half of the campaign, coming into the playoffs on a 9-0 run and the hottest team in the league.
SPORTSBETTING.com has the Colts listed at -120 on the Money line while San Diego is paying out at even money.
The Chargers also finished strong, as they needed to reel off wins to get a shot at a playoff start after a tumultuous regular-season. They didn?t have the run the Colts had, but they did chalk up four-straight wins down the stretch.
However, bettors like this Indy team and they definitely like them in this matchup as they are seeing 70% of the betting action in this one.
Both teams are also amongst the AFC?s Top 5 when it comes to points a game (Chargers are No. 1, the Colts are No. 5) and as a result, the Over is getting hit as well, with 75% of the Over/Under money being wagered at SPORTSBETTING.com going on the ?Over?.
That wraps up the doubleheader on Saturday, with two more matchups for Sunday. Check out SPORTSBETTING.com on Saturday and Sunday as they?re running a special ?Wild Card Weekend? 20% deposit bonus. It?s a free 20% cash on all your deposits over the weekend.
Looking at Sunday?s action:
Sunday, January 4, 2009
AFC ? Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
Ravens -3.5
Over/Under: 37.5
The Miami Dolphins were one of the best stories of the year, if not the best after one of the greatest one-year turnarounds in NFL history. The Fish went 9-1 SU in the final ten games of the regular season, but the big question is whether that will that translate into playoff success and profit for bettors. The Dolphins weren?t nearly as good against the line during that stretch, posting a 5-5 ATS mark.
This will be Baltimore?s second trip to South Florida this season with the last trip resulting in a 27-13 win (and ATS cover as a 3-point favorite.
Sports bettors seem to like the Dolphin story, but don?t trust them with their money, as Baltimore has been their favorite from the time the line went up. Currently Baltimore is seeing 75% of the betting volume and are now favored by more than a field goal.
NFC ? Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Eagles -3
Over/Under: 41.5
The final game of Wild Card weekend sees the Eagles traveling to Minnesota to play the Vikings.
While the Vikings are NFC North division champs they haven?t had impressive stats against the spread as they are 3-5 ATS, at home, on the road, as a fave and as an underdog and 6-10 ATS overall this year.
On the other hand, the Eagles were a profitable team this season with a 10-6 record against the number overall and have good numbers in Minnesota going 3-1 ATS in the last four trips to the Metrodome.
In Philly?s last 10 games against Minnesota overall, the Eagles are 9-1 ATS.
Bettors like the road favorite in this one as well, with the Eagles seeing 60% of the betting action and the Under is at 65% of the money as well.
Happy New Year and enjoy the Wild Card round.
Remember to stop by SPORTSBETTING.com to pick up your special ?Wild Card Weekend? 20% Deposit (again this is on all your deposits all weekend)
By Mike Harrison
The NFL playoffs kick-off the New Year for sports bettors (and of course all the bowl action). The four games on Wild Card weekend give us football on both Saturday and Sunday and present several intriguing matchups.
I can?t say for sure, but this has to be the first time in NFL playoff history that all four home teams in the Wild Card round were underdogs when the opening lines were posted.
All four home sides are still dogs and while there has been some line movement, the public, for the most part, remains uneasy backing the higher seeds playing on home turf.
Hey if you ask me, at least one of the home teams is going to win this weekend?the tricky part obviously is picking which one.
And so it begins, the road to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay.
Let?s have a look at the matchups:
Saturday, January 3
NFC ? Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
Falcons: -1.5
Over/Under: 51.5
The NFC?s fourth and fifth seeds get things started off on Saturday as the Falcons head to the site of last year?s Super Bowl to play the Cardinals.
There?s not much history between these two and neither are particularly used to playing much in January (especially the Cardinals), as Atlanta has played in four playoff games over the last nine years, while Arizona has been at home for the post-season in each of the last nine years.
The Falcons and Cards have met six times in Arizona since 1989, with Atlanta posting a 1-5 SU mark and going 2-4 ATS. The Over cashed in five out of the six contests.
Coming off a 4-12 record last year, the Falcons have talented but inexperienced Matt Ryan behind center as opposed to the experienced Kurt Warner for the Cards.
This is the only home dog that bettors are feeling any warmth for, as early money came in on the Cardinals, but the action has since leveled off and is coming in pretty evenly split between the two sides.
AFC ? Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Colts -1.5
Over/Under: 51.5
Colts QB Peyton Manning might?ve been bothered by a July knee procedure more than he let on as Indianapolis was 3-4 SU (2-5 ATS) at the seven game mark of the regular season this year.
But the shaky start turned into a very impressive run through the second-half of the campaign, coming into the playoffs on a 9-0 run and the hottest team in the league.
SPORTSBETTING.com has the Colts listed at -120 on the Money line while San Diego is paying out at even money.
The Chargers also finished strong, as they needed to reel off wins to get a shot at a playoff start after a tumultuous regular-season. They didn?t have the run the Colts had, but they did chalk up four-straight wins down the stretch.
However, bettors like this Indy team and they definitely like them in this matchup as they are seeing 70% of the betting action in this one.
Both teams are also amongst the AFC?s Top 5 when it comes to points a game (Chargers are No. 1, the Colts are No. 5) and as a result, the Over is getting hit as well, with 75% of the Over/Under money being wagered at SPORTSBETTING.com going on the ?Over?.
That wraps up the doubleheader on Saturday, with two more matchups for Sunday. Check out SPORTSBETTING.com on Saturday and Sunday as they?re running a special ?Wild Card Weekend? 20% deposit bonus. It?s a free 20% cash on all your deposits over the weekend.
Looking at Sunday?s action:
Sunday, January 4, 2009
AFC ? Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
Ravens -3.5
Over/Under: 37.5
The Miami Dolphins were one of the best stories of the year, if not the best after one of the greatest one-year turnarounds in NFL history. The Fish went 9-1 SU in the final ten games of the regular season, but the big question is whether that will that translate into playoff success and profit for bettors. The Dolphins weren?t nearly as good against the line during that stretch, posting a 5-5 ATS mark.
This will be Baltimore?s second trip to South Florida this season with the last trip resulting in a 27-13 win (and ATS cover as a 3-point favorite.
Sports bettors seem to like the Dolphin story, but don?t trust them with their money, as Baltimore has been their favorite from the time the line went up. Currently Baltimore is seeing 75% of the betting volume and are now favored by more than a field goal.
NFC ? Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings
Eagles -3
Over/Under: 41.5
The final game of Wild Card weekend sees the Eagles traveling to Minnesota to play the Vikings.
While the Vikings are NFC North division champs they haven?t had impressive stats against the spread as they are 3-5 ATS, at home, on the road, as a fave and as an underdog and 6-10 ATS overall this year.
On the other hand, the Eagles were a profitable team this season with a 10-6 record against the number overall and have good numbers in Minnesota going 3-1 ATS in the last four trips to the Metrodome.
In Philly?s last 10 games against Minnesota overall, the Eagles are 9-1 ATS.
Bettors like the road favorite in this one as well, with the Eagles seeing 60% of the betting action and the Under is at 65% of the money as well.
Happy New Year and enjoy the Wild Card round.
Remember to stop by SPORTSBETTING.com to pick up your special ?Wild Card Weekend? 20% Deposit (again this is on all your deposits all weekend)
