The holiday season is over, and so is the NFL regular season. And for the first wave of playoff action, the NFL is about to serve tasty postseason appetizers in the form of four wild card games. Looking to bet on these games? Let us help you find the killer sleeper bets that we hope will do your bankroll a solid.
For more football, you can read our full preview of Steelers vs. Bengals and Seahawks vs. Vikings.
[sc:Football ]Wild Card NFL Sleepers Predictions
Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5)
Sunday January 9th at 8:15 ET
[sc:NFL250 ]Like we said, Christmas is done, but the Steelers got a late present from the Buffalo Bills, who defeated the Jets on Sunday to complete the two-game parlay Pittsburgh needed to win to get in the playoffs. For their part, the Steelers took care of lightweight Cleveland. The Bengals on the other hand didn’t earn a first round bye no thanks to Denver’s victory over the Chargers.
That puts Cincy in a wild card round match with Pittsburgh, who has been referred by experts as the team nobody wants to see in the playoffs. There are a number of reasons for Cincy to fear the Steelers. For one, Pittsburgh is brimming with offensive talent, particularly down field, where deep-threat, big-play options like Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton, and some guy named Antonio Brown make a living.
Cincy did well containing these receivers in a 16-10 win in Heinz Field back in Week 8, but the Steelers managed to flex their muscle in the rematch, dismantling the Bengals in Week 14 in a 33-20 victory in Paul Brown Stadium.
We’re not sure on the chances of the Bengals’ defense in bottling up Pittsburgh’s disrespectful offense that ranks fourth in the league in scoring and fourth in passing yards. The depth in the backfield is concerning for Pittsburgh (DeAngelo Williams was carted off the field with an ankle injury in Week 17), but playing Cincy on the road should bolster Pittsburgh’s hopes.
After all, the Steelers are 8-2 SU and ATS in their last 10 games in Paul Brown Stadium, dating back to 2006. In addition, the Bengals are likely to play without Andy Dalton, who’s still nursing a thumb injury, leaving AJ McCarron under center. And hey, if you’re the type who believes in curses, then take note that the Bengals haven’t won a postseason game in 25 years.
Writer’s Prediction: With or without Dalton, now is not the time to trust the Bengals in the playoffs. The thin backfield of Pittsburgh, however, should help Cincy cover the spread. Pittsburgh wins, 23-21.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings
Sunday January 10th at 1:05 ET
It wasn’t long ago that the Vikings played the role of Hugh Glass to the Seahawks’ Bear, when they absorbed a 38-7 mauling to Seattle in Week 13. Fortunately for the Vikings, their playoff hopes didn’t die right there, as they managed to pick up the pieces, going 3-1 SU the rest of the way, including a 20-13 Week 17 victory over Green Bay that clinched them the NFC North title and the rights to face Seattle. Talk about revenge, right?
Minnesota’s loss to the Seahawks was hard to swallow for the Vikings, as they barely did anything right on both ends of the field, managing just 125 total yards, while allowing 433 to Seattle. And that’s a Seattle team playing without Jimmy Graham and Marshawn Lynch. Lynch is expected to come back from a long absence due to an abdomen injury, which should make the Vikings sweat bullets.
That said, the Vikings are on a three-game win streak, and their win over Green Bay should serve as a big confidence builder for the team heading into the playoffs. Seattle is more finesse, more used to playing past the first week of January, and has a better overall makeup, but that’s no assurance that the Seahawks are going to romp past Minnesota. We’re not one to forget that these same Seahawks stepped on a landmine in Week 16, losing to St. Louis, 23-17.
Writer’s Prediction: Seattle wins a tough one, 25-23.
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