Betting Odds Show Titans, Colts, Ravens, Browns Favored To Reach 2021 AFC Playoffs
The AFC playoff race is coming down to the wire with five teams competing for the final four postseason berths in Week 17. The Indianapolis Colts are on the outside of the playoff picture entering the regular-season finale, but oddsmakers believe they have a good chance to advance.
The Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins are all directly ahead of the Colts in the standings. Each team controls its own playoff destiny, meaning a victory gets them into the postseason.
Miami is the only AFC team fighting for a playoff berth that is an underdog in Week 17.
The Buffalo Bills are 4.5-point favorites against the visiting Dolphins, according to betting lines compiled by OddsShark. Buffalo is arguably the hottest team in football with five straight double-digit wins. The Bills beat the Dolphins 31-28 in Miami in Week 2.
Buffalo has already locked up the AFC East championship. The Bills can clinch the conference’s No. 2 seed with a win.
If Miami loses Sunday, they would need a loss by either Baltimore, Cleveland or Indianapolis to clinch a playoff berth.
Cleveland faces a tough matchup on paper, hosting the AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers. But the Browns are favored by more than a touchdown over the Steelers because Pittsburgh is expected to rest some of its starters.
The Steelers had their bye all the way back in Week 4. Postponements brought on by coronavirus outbreaks around the league have forced Pittsburgh to play several games on short rest in the second half of the season.
Indianapolis is expected to cruise in their must-win game. The Colts are laying two touchdowns against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville did manage to upset Indianapolis in the season opener, but that was the Jaguars’ lone victory of the season.
The latest betting line favors the Baltimore Ravens by 11.5 points over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are tied for the NFL’s fifth-worst record. Baltimore defeated Cincinnati 27-3 earlier this season.
Tennessee clinches the AFC South championship if they beat the Houston Texans on the road. The Titans are favored by 7.5 points over the Texans, who own the league’s third-worst record. Tennessee needed overtime to beat Houston in Week 6.
If the Titans lose, they can make the playoffs with a loss by either the Colts, Ravens or Dolphins.
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